In the rematch against Napoli, Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder observed a very pronounced difference between the two teams. The coach of the Amsterdam team lauded their Neapolitan foe and expressed his continued admiration for Italy’s effectiveness.
Schreuder already praised Ajax’s performance after the 4-2 loss in front of the TV cameras, and he did so again during the press conference. He referred to it as “one of the better Ajax games of the season,” while emphasising the strength of Napoli.
It is beyond a shadow of a doubt for him because Napoli is a great team in Europe. Italian media asked Schreuder if he believed the Naples club had a chance to win the Champions League. He replied, “Even though the final is still a ways off, they are doing really well. They have excellent physical attributes and a sound strategy for playing football. They have a decent chance. It was, in my opinion, the best team I had recently faced.
And the team’s dexterity in front of goal is one of Luciano Spalletti’s advantages. That seems like a fantastic first goal for tonight. The opponent’s class should also be taken into consideration because it may have been a little too simple. They are lethal.”
Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder: “We are still chasing these objectives.”
And Ajax is lacking in just that effectiveness. “Actually, we should unquestionably net a goal before the half. After the break, we improved even more. It included the 2-2 and the 3-3,” according to Schreuder, who gave an illustration. “If you consider Kudus’ opportunity in the first half… He makes excellent shots against Liverpool. It might just be a 1-1 situation. They also grow uneasy if they give up a goal and realise that we are playing the game differently this time. That is evident in the second period. Unfortunately, they penalise it because it doesn’t function.”
Schreuder is still competing with Ajax for the goal in spite of the imminent elimination. The Ajax coach was questioned about if he approved of the low standard that had been set during the news conference. He asked it again, “That we set the bar so low? Do you believe it to be low? We might not remember what transpired this summer.” He made mention of the numerous players that had quit. He concluded, “We are still chasing these objectives.”
