The defeat hurt on all sides. Due to the realization that Ajax is sliding further and further from the mountain on which the European summit resides. But also because the team does have a moral one boost could have used in the run -up to Sunday’s topper with PSV, the team that Ajax passed in front of the finish last season in an insane champion race. Well then: Heitinga’s team did not play unkind in phases.
Valentijn Driessen: ‘PSV-Ajax will be a topper of De Lamme against the blind on Sunday’
Those who swear faithfully at their Ajax will have to get used to it after the transfer of the transfer window. The struck Ajax players will often be in the group stage of the billion -dollar ball in them shirt to stand. There is really no breeze for Heitinga and his colleagues. For example, the champion of Azerbaijan, Qarabag, won well on Tuesday at Benfica.
Even Qarabag from Azerbaijan will be a tough one for Ajax
They swim on the Caspian Sea of the oil collars, money that failed under Sven with (tens of) millions of the sink. That is also why the defeat hurt against the pocked and jungled Italians: Ajax can use every euro well. A victory on the Nerazzurri The Amsterdam treasurer had delivered more than two million euros, while a draw is still worth seven tons.
Frustrations and disbelief at Ajax midfielder Youri Reigner: ‘We have discussed this in detail’
Heitinga had seen his team play well in the first half on Saturday in the game with PEC Zwolle and that was reflected in the set-up for the Champions League opener against Inter. Apart from the injured right winger Steven Berghuis, his place was taken by Oliver Edvardsen, the coach sent his ‘Zwolle formation’ into the field.
Of the seven acquisitions, only Jaros and Ikatura received a base place
It meant that of the seven newcomers, five purchases and two mercenaries, there were only two in the field: Center defender Ko Itakura and goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros. Among the Italians, three players got rest after the effort against Juventus on Sunday. One of them was Francesco Acerbi, which opened the door for Stefan de Vrij. Denzel Dumfries was the second inter-Dutchman.
After a minute and a half, the Amsterdam supporters held its breath when Jaros let a shot by Federico Dimarco a la Heinz Stuy let go, but picked him up again before Marcus Thuram could put his foot against it. It was Inter that the game dictated. Only after thirteen minutes did Ajax hesitate for the first time, but a seven shot by Anton Gaaei passed half a meter. It caused a slight change of the game image.
Inter strikes after Mika Godts left a dot of an opportunity
The first big chance was for Inter, which after Edvardsen’s loss of the ball reached Thuram via two discs. The Frenchman’s shot flirted with the left post. Not much later, Michael Oliver put the ball up after Youri Baas had hanged on Thuram’s shirt, but the rang the decision: it was the striker of the Blauwzwarten who started the ‘pulling’.
Mika Godts misses a mega kans. © PRO SHOTS
The home club also got a big chance, even an even bigger one after Edvardsen with a wonderful depth pass Mika Godts set for Yann Sommer. With Akanji and Mkhtitaryan in the chase, the Belgian left winger lost the staredown From the icy cool Swiss goalie. What followed was a southern European football wisdom: whoever forgets to score against Italians, get a goal around the ears. Thuram headed a hundred seconds later at the first post a corner decorated by Dumfries at the first post inside: 0-1.
Denzel Dumfries at the basis of the second goal of Inter
Less than a minute after the break, Dumfries turned on for a sprint that would initiate the 0-2. The Rotterdam whirlwind played Calhanoglu Vrij, but his shot was processed by Ikatura into a corner. And again the cash register was, with the recipe in the meantime as a pizza baker who slides the dough over his finger: Calhanoglu indicated, Thuram headed in. The Ajax players Davy Klaassen and Ikatura had nothing to say against the French violent citizen.
Marcus Thuram could not be stopped at Corners. © ANP/HH
Inter-coach Chivu did not cheer with the Treffers, out of tribute for the club who gave him the chance to achieve maturity. It was a chic gesture for the man who was immensely popular in the Arena. A little later, the Amsterdam supporters were on the banks after the entrance of lost son Kasper Dolberg. The invisible Wout Weghorst had to make room for the Dane. After a few minutes Dolberg headed on the Italian goal, but Sommer had no trouble with it. Just as the Italians effortlessly crossed the victory.
Competition phase – EuropeanMatch day 1
