by Sanu Akingbola
Ajax manager Frank de boer has admitted that
the Eredivisie champions showed Paris Saint-Germain too much respect in the
opening 45 minutes of their Champions League encounter at the Amsterdam
ArenA on Wednesday.
Lasse Schone struck a 74th-minute
equaliser, cancelling out Edinson Cavani's first-half goal as Ajax earned a
point in their Group F opener.
De Boer was pleased with his team's
approach in the second half on Wednesday, however, and said it was exactly
what they needed to produce against top-quality opposition.
"In the first half we didn't play
freely enough to do anything against PSG," De Boer said at a press
conference.
"They didn't have many chances but
they were more threatening than us. After the big chance we gave away at the
start of the second half I think we threw off our fear.
"[Half-time substitute Niki] Zimling
brought some calmness to the team and we got closer to the opponents' goal. Then
you know that you can have some small chances.
"We showed in the second half that we
can play good football. In the second half my team threw off their fear and
that's what you need to do against such teams. Everyone played well in the
second half and we can be happy with a point."
De Boer then went on to praise goalkeeper
Jasper Cillessen and defender Joel Veltman for their performances.
"I have to give my goalkeeper Jasper
Cillessen a lot of praise for denying them a second goal," he said.
"I was also pleased with Joel Veltman,
who was on Zlatan Ibrahimovic and prevented PSG from passing the ball to him. "However, we cannot make mistakes at
this level and we have to cut those
out.
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