LONDON (AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE) - Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper Andre Onana says that the flamboyant European dreamers aren't afraid of anyone as they prepare to continue their wild ride in the Champions League with the first leg of their semi-final at Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday (April 30).
Four-time European champions Ajax are hunting their first major continental triumph since Patrick Kluivert downed AC Milan in the 1995 final and have warmed hearts with a thrilling run to the last four that has recalled the glory days of Johan Cruyff and total football.
Next up are Spurs, who Ajax meet after dispatching reigning European champions Real Madrid and Juventus - tipped by many to win the Champions League this season after signing Cristiano Ronaldo - with thrilling displays that enchanted football fans across the continent.
"After beating Juventus and Real Madrid, you're not afraid of anyone," Onana said in an interview with Agence France-Presse.
"They (Spurs) are a very good team. They have very good players, especially on the counter where they can create problems for us. But it's up to us to handle these situations."
Cameroon international Onana has been a fixture between the sticks as the Dutch giants hunt a historic treble that Ajax have not completed since Cruyff's 1972 heyday, when they won the second of three consecutive European Cups and combined that with the Dutch Cup and league title.
They are also top of the Eredivisie, although level on points with PSV Eindhoven, and take on Willem II in May's domestic cup final.
Â
Â
Â
Asked by AFP if he expected Ajax to go so far in Europe, Onana said: "To be honest, no! It's my first season in the Champions League and, when we qualified for the group stage, it was already like 'wow'."
Ajax's continental campaign kicked off against Austrian side Sturm Graz way back in July, the first of three qualifying rounds they had to negotiate before making the groups.
"We said to ourselves, there are six matches, let's see if we can hang on to the Europa League!"
Instead, Ajax finished comfortably second in Group E, unbeaten and only two points behind eventual group winners Bayern Munich, and now have a realistic chance of joining the Bavarians on five European Cups after turning on the style in the knockout rounds.
"It's the philosophy of the club and it's important for us to stay true to it: control the game, keep possession... it's clear that fans have been enjoying watching it, and we have fun playing it," said Onana.
Ajax have extra motivation going into their clash at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as they know that this is the last chance for this group of players to shock everyone and snatch the biggest prize in football.
Star midfielder Frenkie de Jong will leave for Barcelona in the summer for an initial €75 million (S$114 million), while centre-back Matthijs de Ligt, who sent Juventus packing with a bullet header in the quarter finals, could follow his teammate to Catalonia.
After knocking out Real, coach Frank de Boer admitted that forwards Hakim Ziyech and David Neres and Onana would also all be targeted by Europe's biggest clubs come the end of the season.
And the stopper wants to sign off this era with the perfect parting gift after missing out on the Europa League to Manchester United in 2017.
"It's clear that this is our objective. Not just for the goal in and of itself, but for us, because after this season, there will be a lot of players who will leave," said Onana.
"It is important for us to do something big. If that means winning the treble, well that will be simply beautiful."
Neil Warnock says Emiliano Sala tragedy most difficult week
Madrid set to be Hazard's new home BAKU • Eden Hazard helped make it a night to celebrate for Chelsea in Baku, but the Belgian's confirmation that it was almost certainly his last game for the club opened the way to a summer of uncertainty at Stamford Bridge.
Madrid set to be Hazard's new home - Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/sports/madrid-set-to-be-hazards-new-home/
BAKU • Eden Hazard helped make it a night to celebrate for Chelsea in Baku, but the Belgian's confirmation that it was almost certainly his last game for the club opened the way to a summer of uncertainty at Stamford Bridge. Hazard scored twice, including a penalty, and set up another goal for Pedro Rodriguez […]
Real Madrid set to unveil Hazard at the Bernabeu on Monday
Bayern Munich reach German Cup final to keep Double in sight Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen 3-2 with two goals from Robert Lewandowski on Wednesday to advance to the German
Ruben Neves stunner from 25-yards hands Jurgen Klopp's side an early FA Cup exit. Reds' hopes of a treble are over after the Portuguese ace unleashed a trademark strike from distance.
Why Jurgen Klopp has no option but to risk another early FA
Former Manchester United Great Paul Scholes Appointed Manager
Neymar has denied an accusation that he raped a woman in a Paris hotel room in May.According to police documents that were obtained by the New York Times and The Associated Press, among other
Neymar: Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil superstar denies rape
Barbara Bonansea scored twice to give Italy a surprise, last-gasp 2-1 victory against Australia in its opening Group C game at the women's World Cup on Sunday. The Italians, back at the World
Australia fall to Italy in dramatic Women's World Cup clash
Football: West Ham's Michail Antonio scores winner as Spurs suffers first loss at new stadium Related Story Football: Southampton stay up after thrilling 3-3 draw with Bournemouth
Tottenham suffer first loss at new stadium as Michail Antonio
fifa-livescores.com/news/107756/ALL/Tottenham-suffer-first-loss-at-new-stadium-as-Michail-Antonio-hits-winner-for-West-Ham
Tottenham suffer first loss at new stadium as Michail Antonio hits winner for West Ham, West Ham became the first opposition team to win at Tottenham's new stadium after a Michail Antonio goal gave them a 1-0 victory. , West Ham became the first opposition team to win at Tottenham's new stadium after a Michail Antonio goal gave them a 1-0 victory.
Tottenham 0-1 West Ham: Spurs lose for first time in their
Belgium's Eden Hazard (centre) in action with Cyprus' Kostakis Artymatas (left) and Georgios Efrem. (Reuters pic) NICOSIA: Eden Hazard marked his 100th cap with an early goal to set Belgium on
Football: Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help
David de Gea has had a difficult few weeks for Manchester United, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still has faith in him. London, April 26: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not contemplating taking Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea out of the firing line despite some high-profile errors in recent weeks.
Solskjaer reaffirms De Gea faith after Romero injury
Singapore international striker Ikhsan Fandi moved to Europe with Raufoss IL earlier this year and the 20-year-old has now scored his first goal in the Norwegian First Division in stunning fashion!
Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for
worldsportstale.com/soccer/football-ikhsan-fandi-scores-in-third-successive-match-for-raufoss/
05/22/2019 Comments Off on Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for Raufoss SINGAPORE - Ikhsan Fandi's rich vein of scoring form continues as the Singapore striker found the net in his third consecutive match for second-tier Norwegian club Raufoss IL in just 11 days.
Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for
virginiabus.info/sports/football-ikhsan-fandi-scores-in-third-successive-match-for-raufoss/
SINGAPORE - Ikhsan Fandi's rich vein of scoring form continues as the Singapore striker found the net in his third consecutive match for second-tier Norwegian club Raufoss IL in just 11 days. On Wednesday (May 22), the 20-year-old opened the scoring at third-tier Fram Larvik in the 33rd minute of the second-round Norwegian Football Cup tie.
Football: Ikhsan Fandi scores in third successive match for
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar