Ajax was the happiest on Sunday that the top match against PSV ended in 1-1. The team from Amsterdam seemed to lose during the heated confrontation in Eindhoven, but just before time, captain Dusan Tadic saved an important point.
After Tadic’s goal, commotion arose because the Serbian got into a fight with PSV captain Denzel Dumfries. The incident did fit into the game, which was more exciting than good.
“The emotions got the upper hand and here and there the head was lost. There was no good football anymore. It was also prompted by a bad pitch”, said Ajax coach Erik ten Hag in front of the camera. ESPN.
“There were quite a lot of spaces, especially with Davy Klaassen. But we didn’t get the ball there. All in all, we were very poor in football. Somehow the players did not have an overview. That certainly had to do with the emotions on and along the field. “
Yet Ten Hag does not want to take it too seriously that Ajax did not play its best game in the Philips Stadium. De Haaksbergenaar was ultimately happy with the result with which they traveled back to Amsterdam.
“These are top competitions, where the stress is high. I understand that very well,” he said. “Then it is very difficult to keep a cool head. But I have to give the team a big compliment, because we came behind and we straightened out again. 1-1 is fine.”
Schmidt: ‘Tactically it was great’
PSV coach Roger Schmidt was of course disappointed that his team gave up the victory, but was predominantly proud of the way in which Ajax was fought. “We should have finished earlier. We had chances of a second or third hit,” said the German.
“Tactically it was great, we did very well. Only the first fifteen minutes was difficult. After that it went exactly as we wanted. We didn’t give anything away and scored a goal at a good moment.”
Ajax took more risks after the break and PSV got some opportunities in the switch. Schmidt: “Possession of the ball could have been even better, but we have made progress. Both Thursday against Olympiacos and today against Ajax.”
The gap between leader Ajax and closest pursuer PSV remains six points. The team from Amsterdam also played a match less and also have a better goal difference.
Ten Hag and Schmidt also gave an update about the injured players in their team. Ajax will probably have to do without Noussair Mazraoui (reduced eyesight) for a few more weeks. PSV may have Cody Gakpo and Noni Madueke again next week.
View the results, the stand and the program in the Eredivisie
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