Ajax plays this Wednesday their pass to the second round of the Champions League against Atalanta at home, at the Johan Cruyff Arena. The Bergamo team, a quarter-finalist in the last edition, has one point more than that of Amsterdam, but the ‘ajacied’ play in their own field, even if it is behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Our dream and our ambition are to keep going, to continue in this Champions League,” said Erik ten Hag, coach of Ajax, this Tuesday at a press conference. The Dutch will be in the round of 16 if they win.
Ten Hag said: “Atalanta are an incredible team, they have a fantastic style of play. I respect (Gian Piero) Gasperini a lot, he has key players, especially in the midfield. When they are not there you can tell the difference. We have a similar style. They are ninth in Serie A, but this depends on the absence of physical players ”.
The Ajax coach, semifinalist in 2018-19, also said: “How are we? December is always a difficult month. I do not make comparisons, we have lost many players, but it has also happened to Atalanta. We lack concentration in some moments, we should take more advantage of the spaces and be more confident. Taking risks, but it can be a danger if concentration is lacking, as happened to us in the Bergamo match ”.
In Bergamo Atalanta and Ajax drew (2-2) on October 27. Liverpool, who visit Midtjylland, come to this last day of group D already qualified for the round of 16 as group winners.