Alonso: “Qualifying is uphill but we will fight – Whether we win or lose, always be ourselves”

Satisfied with the way his players battled through the game despite losing 1-0 to Ajax, he introduced Diego Alonso during the press conference Diego Alonso.

THE 49 year old Uruguayan technician, answered the question of the approach to the game in the first minutes and whether the specific image was a part of strategy, while he singled out the points he liked from the appearance of his team, but also highlighted those that should be changed in view of Amsterdam.

Among other things, he also talked about the players who came on as a substitute in the match and closed by referring to the tactical part, compared to the Ajax game.

In detail what he said:

On the behavior of the team in the first minutes and if it was part of the strategy:

“Undoubtedly, the first few minutes were not what we had planned. Ajax is a team that plays very well, so we struggled to find a way to press. I think it’s a gear issue. We press with speed, within a short period of time, we can more easily steal the ball. In the first 15-20 minutes after that we improved and the second half was a different game for us. In the second half we were what we want, a team courageous when we want to get the ball but also when we want to attack. Whether we win or lose, always be ourselves. When the match was over, the fans recognized this in the footballers.”

On what he keeps from today’s match and what he will fix ahead of the rematch:

“Tonight’s match was a lesson for us. If we want to be in the European salons we have to play this way. To be able to be competitive. Of course, the qualification is uphill, but we are still alive and we will fight. We will fight.”

For Ioannidis, Baldock, Tete and Maksimovic, even if they will play more in the second leg:

“To tell you that it would be too hasty for me to say tonight who will be playing in a week. The players who came on tonight as a substitute did very well and we are improving.”

On how to deal with Ajax and whether high pressure to break the press or big balls from the defense suits:

“Always when you’re facing an opponent you have a strategy for how you’re going to play. But so does the opponent. In the first half we wanted to push hard, but we didn’t do it the way we should have. So in the first 15 minutes we played very close to our goal and that’s why we had a hard time. We want a team that is closer to the opponent’s goal than ours. I am one of those coaches who believe that the further away you are from your goal, the better you defend. I like to defend further forward.

I think that during the 2nd half we did things better and I don’t remember Ajax having a significant chance. Because he saw that we defended better more advanced. If you ask me, in the next match we will look to defend as forward as possible. Although the opponent has good players, fast, who when they get the ball in the back are fast. It will depend on the time we give the players how well they can send the ball to the back.”