De Ligt thinks that Ajax is "fantastically constructed" against Benfica | Now

Matthijs de Ligt, captain of Ajax, is satisfied with a point (1-1) against Benfica, after the Portuguese showed themselves much stronger in the Champions League match at Lisbon in the first period. To De Ligt's relief, the Amsterdams played harder after the break and Dusan Tadic was right.

"The first half was not enough, we did not play our own game, not daring and courage", according to De Ligt in front of the camera Veronica . "After a rest, we prepared ourselves fantastically, they just fell behind when we tied, it was nice."

With the draw, Ajax and De Ligt have once again made a step forward towards the winter in the million ball. It is even certain that the Amsterdam club will be at least third in group E and that a ticket for the knockout stages of the Europa League is anyway a fact.

If Ajax, who ranks second with eight points, wins three weeks at AEK Athens, who still has not won, a place in the next round of the Champions League is assured. "Third place was the goal in advance," said De Ligt. "But now we are so good that we just have to finish with the first two."

"Benfica was not great either"

Coach Erik ten Hag also thinks that Ajax should no longer miss the winter in the Champions League. "Last season was a blame for the club without European football, we have now set the bar even higher."

Just like De Ligt, the coach acknowledged that Ajax was playing a weak match against Benfica. The away team has only created his first chance at the end of the first period, after Benfica has already scored after a goaltender's goaltender André Onana.

"We did not play well as a team, so many players were invisible, without faith, without initiative, without tempo and without depth, I did not think Benfica was great either, but because of our own guilt, we have fallen behind, "said Ten Hag, who congratulated his team for the match after halftime.

"They did a great job and we were able to get back to 1-1, and after equalizing, we had our best lap, and we went for the win, but unfortunately it did not go away. This result is more than deserved. "

The other Wednesday match in Group E was won by Bayern Munich 2-0 against AEK Athens. The Germans are leading with ten points, followed by Ajax (eight points) and Benfica (four points).