Amsterdam: Ajax teach Erik ten Hag expressed delight in his team after seeing their rousing Champions League run result in merciless style in their semi-very last in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.
“I’m thrilled that this team made it this far. We have had a wonderful run,” Ten Hag said after the Dutch club was beaten by away goals on a dramatic night at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Lucas Moura’s 96th-minute strike to finish his 2nd-1/2 hat-trick made it three to Spurs on the night and 3-3 on mixture because the Premier League membership advanced to the very last in opposition to Liverpool.
Ajax had been 2-0 up on the night and 3-zero beforehand within the tie after first-1/2 goals by captain Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech.
Having eliminated Real Madrid and Juventus in the previous two rounds, they had been on the brink of a primary Champions League, the very last appearance for the membership in 23 years, and their players slumped to the turf in depression when Lucas got the winner.
“We tried to shut the game down, and we failed to manage,” admitted Ten Hag, with Ziyech hitting the submit overdue for the house facet.
“I told the players it is tough to discover the right phrases in a second like this and that football is merciless.
“We must bear the merciless facet tonight; however, we must cross on.
“The Champions League very last is so unique, and the players all recognize that very well so that you want time to get over it. However, we ought to get back on target on Sunday.”
Ajax has already won the Dutch Cup this season and can nonetheless entire a home double before their gifted squad is unavoidably broken up at the top of the campaign.
They are neck and neck with PSV Eindhoven on the Eredivisie’s pinnacle heading into the final suits.
They play Utrecht at domestic on Sunday, meaning there’s little time to wallow in this defeat.
“We will address this and regain composure,” he added.
“We owe it to ourselves and the lovers. We have had a notable season; we’ve got one prize, and this organization of gamers is resilient. We may be there on the pitch on Sunday.”
Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool’s outstanding European fightback proves his determination to win the Premier League will not give up until Manchester City have the trophy in their arms on Sunday.
Klopp’s group staged arguably the greatest comeback in Champions League history on Tuesday. They thrashed Barcelona four-zero to overturn a 3-0 semi-last first-leg deficit.
With an all-English Champions League final against Tottenham set for June 1, Liverpool can pour all their energy into one final push to win their first English name because of 1990.
The Reds are one point behind Manchester City’s leaders heading into their last game of the season against the Wolves at Anfield.
The City will hold the title if they win at Brighton; however, a draw or loss for Pep Guardiola’s men might open the door for Liverpool to be topped champions if they defeat Wolves.
Given Brighton’s low function, the odds are firmly on a city coronation. However, Liverpool boss Klopp says this week’s stunning Champions League drama showed something could manifest while the strain mounts.
Not handiest did Liverpool creator a fightback for a while; however, Tottenham scored three times in their semi-final opposition to Ajax to go through on away dreams after trailing 3-zero on the mixture with just 35 minutes left.
“It’s been a week of large soccer moments. But from our point of view, it may be a massive football second on the weekend — the week isn’t always over yet,” Klopp said.
“At the beginning of the week, most of the people predicted me to be sitting here and saying, ‘OK, after now not being in the Champions League very last, it is hard to be champions.’ We’re in the very last, and it’s still difficult.
“We aren’t used to moments of glory but occasionally win. Focus is not a problem. The most effective aspect we can do is win this game.”
In certainly every other season, Liverpool, who’ve had ninety-four factors and features lost handiest as soon as within the league, could have been championed by way of now.
Having secured successive Champions League final appearances, Liverpool’s edge of failure will not be sharp if it does not get a supporting hand from Brighton this weekend.
But do no longer tell that to Klopp and his players.
Reflecting on the togetherness and choice fuelling their great season, Klopp found out Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson, and Jordan Henderson will all play through the pain barrier in opposition to Wolves.
‘IT’S ONLY PAIN’
Salah neglected the Barcelona game with a concussion, while Henderson (knee) and Robertson (calf) suffered accidents in that suit.
“The famous three phrases of this week inside the dressing room is ‘It’s the simplest pain.’ Very important for all the young lads to study,” Klopp stated.
Liverpool lovers may be glued to their phones for updates from Brighton as the drama unfolds on Sunday, but Klopp needs his team to awareness of Wolves.
“Maybe our supporters shouldn’t celebrate the result earlier than it is three-0 for Brighton and 87 or 88 minutes performed; all of the rest is only statistics, nothing else,” Klopp stated.
The manager remains to await the primary trophy of his 4-year Liverpool reign, but that pales in comparison to his membership’s nearly 3-decade identify drought.
When Liverpool last received the league, it became their tenth name in 15 years—a duration of dominance that came to an unexpected stop when Kenny Dalglish resigned as manager in February 1991.
In the barren years, Liverpool has completed the second four instances, the maximum famously falling just briefly, while Steven Gerrard’s slip in a defeat against Chelsea allowed City to sneak past them in 2014.
While Liverpool has a special relationship with the European Cup, which they have won five times, the club was raised on mythical boss Bill Shankly’s call that “the league is our bread and butter; it is the only I need.”
Winning their 19th title might spark delirious celebrations across Merseyside, and after what he has witnessed this week, Klopp senses one last miracle may be on the cards.
“Both groups have to win their games. That’s not sure (to occur) inside the second, so we must receive recognition on that,” he stated.