For half an hour against Liverpool, Ajax looked like the side that have made waves in the Champions League in recent years. Steven Berghuis hit the post, Dusan Tadic had a huge chance. But after the slightly conceded 0:1 shortly before the break, this impression turned out to be an illusion. It became 0-3.

Mo Salah’s 1-0 was thanks to goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, who went too far from his goal. The 2-0 (Darwin Nuñez header) was also preceded by a childish mismatch. And with Elliott’s 3-0, Edson lvarez was on the wrong side.

And so Ajax suffered their fourth successive defeat in the Champions League, the third by at least three goals. And if Liverpool hadn’t opted for austerity, the result could have been even more disastrous.

Schreuder: “Big step forward”

But coach Alfred Schreuder didn’t want to emphasize what went wrong, but what went right. “We can keep up with Liverpool for the first half hour. This team played a much better first half than at Anfield. And that’s a big step forward, even if the result isn’t enough.”

“But we have to look at the development of the football, the game and the team process. We are in good form in the competition and defensively we are also in a much better position than at this level.”

Captain Dusan Tadic was harsher in his judgment but came to the same conclusion. “It’s unacceptable. I had a good chance and it has to be taken. And Steven Berghuis and Jorge Sánchez could have scored too. Of course you also see the negative side, because we’re Ajax and we don’t like to lose.” . But if you lose a lot then you have to see the positives because we have to keep going, in the Europa League and in the competition.”

No excuses

The contrast to last year, when Ajax thundered through the group stage without losing a point, is very big. Tadic: “Indeed, but last year there was another group. This group is very strong and we have a few other players as well. But that’s no excuse.”

A continuation in the Europa League is also not certain, although Ajax travel to Glasgow with a comfortable lead (4-0) for the last duel with Rangers. “If you look at this group and these opponents, that’s the reality. This group is just a top group. And we’re not good enough to finish in the top two. But we have to keep raising the bar.”

In addition to the eighteen goals against Ajax in October, something else stands out: Ajax are not giving up in top games this season. Not a nice prospect in the top game against PSV on November 6th.

“Rangers was also a top game, especially in the phase we are in,” adds Schreuder. “And I think we played it well. Of course you talk about it, but it won’t be an issue for us.”