After the semi-final entry the preliminary round exit: Ajax Amsterdam did not manage to take advantage of the good starting position.
The scene that so aptly describes Ajax’s bitter end in the Champions League did not even happen in Amsterdam. Some 1,000 kilometres further south in San Siro, Frenkie de Jong must have seen on the video screen at around 11pm on Tuesday evening that his former colleagues had lost to Valencia and only finished third.
Visibly dejected, the 22-year-old, who switched from Ajax to Barça for 75 million euros in the summer, let his head hang and put his hands on his hips.
His former companions were no different. “It hurts a lot,” explained Dusan Tadic after the 1-0 win against the Spanish. “I don’t know what to say.” Despite the good starting position (a draw would have been enough for Ajax to reach the last 16) and more game shares, last year’s semi-finalists had little chance against Valencia and are now hibernating in the Europa League.
Unsurprisingly, the “consolation prize” did not cheer up the Dutch. “No,” said Tadic, “we are not happy about the Europa League. We want to join the Champions League.” After his spectacular preseason in the premier league (six goals and five assists in 12 games), the Serb was left without a goal this time.
With six points from the first three games and a 4-1 lead at Chelsea on Matchday 4, Ajax had looked good, but then the Dutch double winners conceded three more goals in London, won in Lille and lost to Valencia. “That makes it particularly bitter,” said coach Erik ten Hag. “We deserved it, the disappointment is huge.”
