#4884850 · 23 Feb 2007, 10:25 · · პროფილი · პირადი მიმოწერა · ჩატი
Ten Cate: proud and disappointed
Ajax defeated Werder Bremen (3-1) in a good match, but the win was not big enough to advance to the next round of the UEFA Cup. This of course to the disappointment of Henk ten Cate, who was proud of his team, however.
Ajax coach Henk ten Cate sat down behind the press table with mixed feelings after the match. The Ajax boss was proud of his team, who had made it very difficult for Werder Bremen; and disappointed, because Ajax had failed to reach the final sixteen of the UEFA Cup, despite the 3-1 victory. ,,The round is two matches'', said the coach. ,,And so we went wrong in the first game. There we were quickly reduced to ten, a goal was allowed that had not passed the line and we missed a good chance to score. Also don't forget that we missed important players. If we would have had a complete squad twice, we would have had a good chance.''
Ajax did get a chance to avenge the 3-0 loss in Germany in the home match, although the team walked the tightrope for most of the time. One Werder goal meant that Ajax would have to win very big against a side that was one of the favourites to win the UEFA Cup. Ajax started well when Leonardo scored after only three minutes, leaving 87 minutes for the other two goals.
But unfortunately Hugo Almeida scored ten minutes later: 1-1 and now Ajax had to score four more times. ,,With some more luck, we could have scored more goals'', said Ten Cate about the chances for Ryan Babel, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Wesley Sneijder and Kenneth Perez and Leonardo's header that was cleared off the line. ,,But we should not lose sight of reality, Werder also had some big chances'', said the Ajax coach, referring to Almeida who could have made it 1-2 at a few occasions.
The Portugese forward did not score anymore and thus kept the door open for Ajax to put the Germans under pressure. After an hour Babel touched it to Huntelaar who scored and fifteen minutes later it was Babel himself who let the ArenA erupt. The Ajax players went on the hunt for more goals and a semi-miracle, and almost succeeded.
However, goalkeeper Wiese reacted well on chances for Sneijder and Perez, and gradually it became clear that Ajax was running out of time. Yet in some ways, the home team had won. Ten Cate: ,,This kind of games give you so much valuable experience. And we had something to lose today: prestige. I am proud of what the team has achieved today.''
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"I wish I could explain why I didn't play well"
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"He is nicknamed The Rocket due to his rapid playing style, with unofficial monikers including The Essex Exocet and The Magician."
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ჰოლანდიური ფეხბურთის ფანკლუბი, HUP HOLLAND
