"Ajax" created a real sauna for the UEFA Champions League winners in the start of the quarterfinals in Amsterdam, but once again the experience of the opponents played a crucial factor in the Dutch capital. "Ajax" lost to Madrid's "Real" team with a score of 1:2 after a tough battle. The score was tied for a long time, but a goal by Marco Asensio at the end of the match dealt a blow to the home team. "I saw an amazing 'Ajax' team, which played against a world-class opponent. Madrid's 'Real' is one of the best teams in Europe. I think we dominated most of the match and created very dangerous opportunities," said "Ajax" coach Erik ten Hag. "Everything worked because of good defense and high pressure. It helped us create chances, but we also played well in positional attacks, in which we also had our moments. The only thing I am not satisfied with is our finishing. We should have made better use of the opportunities. Another negative thing is that we couldn't stay focused until the end of the match. If you make even a small mistake, a team like 'Real' will punish you. That happened last night," continued the strategist. Asked about the VAR decision, when Nicolo Tagliafico's goal was not counted, E. ten Hag said: "This decision can be decisive in this tournament. It's very sad that the goal was not counted." "Ajax" will travel to Madrid for the second leg on March 5th.
