AMSTERDAM • Praises have flowed for the Ajax academy graduates, who have stayed true to the "total football" philosophy espoused by Johan Cruyff in their rousing run from the qualifiers to the final four of the Champions League.
However, after failing to end a 24-year European Cup drought on Wednesday, the reality dawned on coach Erik ten Hag and his players that his team will now inevitably be broken up in the summer.
The Dutch league leaders were undone 3-2 on the night by a Lucas Moura hat-trick, including his added-time goal that punched Tottenham's ticket to the final on away goals despite the tie ending 3-3.
This season, Ajax have been a butterfly team, here for one glorious summer, but whose wings are already beginning to disintegrate a little in the sunlight.
Yet ten Hag found consolation in their "fantastic" European campaign despite the heartbreaking nature of their semi-final exit.
He said: "Football can be very beautiful and it can be very cruel. We have had to experience that today. We were one second away from the final and for that, our team deserves a very big compliment. I'm very proud of my players."
Despite his pride, he rued the golden opportunity that slipped through their fingers, after goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech gave them a commanding 3-0 aggregate lead.
The Dutchman added: "If you're 2-0 up, you have to make sure you win and we failed to do that. In the first phase after half-time, we lost our grip on the game, they played a more opportunistic game.
"At 2-2, we dominated again and we created chances. It's very bitter that none of those went in and they scored a very fortunate goal in the last seconds, maybe even past what should have been the last second."
De Ligt heads a list of names that will likely be sold, including Ziyech, who hit the post; David Neres, who was injured during the warm-up; and Donny van de Beek, the first-leg match-winner. Frenkie de Jong has already agreed a blockbuster move to Barcelona.
While captain-defender de Ligt, 19, admitted he "did not know how to recover from this" and that it was "a dream that went bad", he told Dutch TV channel Veronica that Ajax were still going to fight for a domestic double.
The Dutch Cup winners lead the Eredivisie on goal difference from PSV Eindhoven with two matches left.
REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN
Defender Kadeisha Buchanan scored on the stroke of halftime to hand Canada a winning start to the women's World Cup as they edged Cameroon 1-0 at a rainy Stade de La Mosson on Monday.
Canada open World Cup campaign with slender win over Cameroon
Yorke, 47, admitted: "Of course this is the biggest test for Ole so far. "Spurs have got a great side. But this United team is playing without fear now, so they should have no fear going to
Key quotes: The Ole Gunnar Solskjaer philosophy | Manchester
While mentoring can be time consuming, it is often also very satisfying. Plus, when you are teaching others how to do their jobs, you may discover holes in your knowledge or skill set as you answer mentee questions. Identifying these gaps and addressing them will help you become better at your job. Additional reporting by Jacob Share.
These are the top 10 best and worst jobs for the future - CNBC
Tottenham have a bad recent record against Manchester City, but Liverpool have laid out the tactical blueprint for beating Pep Guardiola's side. Two consecutive transfer windows without a
Mourinho gives Spurs blueprint to beat Ajax after
LONDON: The English Football Association (FA) has charged Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino with improper conduct for confronting the referee after Saturday's shock 2-1 Premier League
Football: Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino charged for improper
Tottenham striker Harry Kane could miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury, says manager Mauricio Pochettino. Kane, 25, will have an MRI scan on Wednesday after hobbling off during
Harry Kane could be out for rest of the season, says Mauricio
The Bankruptcy Means Test. Among other things involved in the bankruptcy process, before you can file a Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy, you will have to take a means test.The means test identifies those debtors who have the financial capacity to pay a significant portion of their bills to creditors.
List of retailers affected by the retail apocalypse - Wikipedia
MUNICH, Germany, May 18 - Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga title for a seventh straight season after beating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 to finish ahead of rivals Borussia Dortmund. The Bavarians, who can secure a domestic double if they beat RB Leipzig in the German Cup final on May 25, have now won the German league title a record 29 times.
Bayern Munich Win German Bundesliga Soccer Title for Seventh
Stadium switch poised to lift Spurs LONDON • Mauricio Pochettino has hailed Tottenham's newly opened stadium as "the best in the world" and that "the facilities would convince people to sign for the club".
Spurs Fan Club Singapore - Best Fan ImageForms.Co
Pochettino criticised his side's lack of mental strength after a frustrating 2-1 defeat at Burnley, before going on to say it could take ten years to develop a title-winning instinct at the club.
BRIGHTON (REUTERS) - Arsenal manager Unai Emery was fined 8,000 pounds (S$13,899) on Monday (Dec 31) but avoided a touchline ban for kicking a plastic bottle at a Brighton and Hove Albion
China aims to become football superpower 'by 2050' The men's football team should become one of the best in Asia, while the female football team should be ranked as a world-class team, by 2030
Football: World Cup 2022 or bust for Lippi on China return
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 10, 2019, with the headline 'Sterling gets van Dijk's vote for PFA award'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
Sterling gets Van Dijk's vote for PFA player of the year
Barcelona would have won the title with a win and Dani Alves went close with a fierce drive, but Atletico held on. the Barcelona-Real Madrid duopoly in Spanish football. The draw meant
LIVE Transfer Talk: Real Madrid close in on €50m Mendy
After spending a lot of time and points on PAP'ing the same gun.. Devs then said NO damage is increased only an added scope/attachment. Subscribe for more Zo
Pack-A-Punched Weapons - Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Wiki Guide
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch soccer live stream links
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch premier league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming pc
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming kenya
watch soccer online free streaming live without registration
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch premier league games live stream
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch indian premier league live stream online
watch soccer am live stream
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online reddit
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch champions league live streaming bt sport
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch soccer world cup live streaming
watch premier league live stream hd
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch premier league live streaming online
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch coppa america live streaming philippines
how to watch premier league live streaming
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch soccer live stream app
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch live premier league football streaming online for free
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch live streaming soccer world cup
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch premier league live stream reddit
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch champions league live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch english premier league live streaming
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch champions league live streaming bein sport
watch premier league darts live stream
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch soccer online free streaming live p2p
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch soccer aid live stream
watch soccer game live now
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch champions league live stream uk
watch coppa america live streaming spain
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch the premier league live stream
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
watch premier league live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming app
free watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch coppa america live streaming bola
soccer tv live football streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch live streaming soccer games
watch premier league live streaming video
#myfootballuniverse #leomessi #footballmeme #oudmehta #elcasico #bundesliga #noelgallagher #alissonbecker #zidane #league2 #golf #juventus #pagani #vandijk #uefanationsleague #chocolate #streamingbolaid #watchlive #acmilan #realmadrid #risate #messi #coys #PartyTime #lfc #soccer #sunderlandafc #GarageCafeDxb #panini #oasis #freekick #coyg #thebeatles #transfernews #Bar #satira #footballdubai #valcea #firmino #soccerbible #commentimemorabili #rockstar #tokyo #BMW #arsenal #klopp #MSport #ballondor #beatifulgame #neymar #goal #conference #cappucino #england #JUVENTUS #nikesoccer #oasisandbeatles #livestreams #mancity #433skills #copaamerica #zinedinezidane #serieatim #boxing #football #ignoranza #londoncity #gunners #linkstreaming #premierleague #hoffenhiem #sumbertv #bestshishacafedubai #nutmeg #commento #cristianoronaldo #Liamgallagher #portsmouthfc #bayern #freekicks #mane #barcelona #chocolatecoffee #petercrouch #Suarez #knuckleball #24x7 #adidasslipon #fut #ucl #crossfit #gym #Sunday #mancityvsliverpool #vip #cristiano
No comments:
Post a Comment