Ajax Amsterdam coach Erik ten Hag said on Tuesday that Benfica Lisbon were a team that benefited from the mistakes of their opponents on the eve of their Champions League round of 16 first leg.
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“
We want to get a good result, it doesn't matter who is favorite.
We have analyzed Benfica well, they take advantage of mistakes (...) counter-attacks are one of their strong points
, ”said Erik ten Hag at a press conference.
Ajax Amsterdam are one of three teams, along with Liverpool and Bayern Munich, to conclude the group stage with plenty of victories.
Despite an average of more than three goals per game in group stages, the Ajacides believe they are having difficulty finding the fault in the defense of the "
Eagles
".
“
Benfica's strength is their experience, especially in the center of defence.
We will have to be very good to create opportunities for ourselves because they have experienced players like Otamendi and Vertonghen
,” said Erik ten Hag, who has been in charge of Ajax since 2017.
Opponent of Benfica in the group stage of the C1 during the 2019/2020 season, Ajax Amsterdam assumes the new dimension taken by the club since their last meeting in Lisbon (1-1).
"
Tomorrow will be a different match than three years ago, our players are different and our status has changed a lot since then because we have achieved a lot of good results
," said Erik ten Hag.
“
It was a very difficult match three years ago.
After this meeting, we have evolved a lot, grown
a lot , "added the side Daley Blind, who will have the opportunity to overtake Finland's Jari Litmanen against Benfica as the player who has played the most Champions League games under the jersey of Ajax Amsterdam (43).