Koeman did not call the team to be under pressure at the last moment. Even though the Dutch media repeatedly emphasized that Ajax wanted to enter the Champions League quarter-finals, it was the best time to play against Arsenal at home. Once he missed the first 90 minutes of his home court and could not get an advantageous score, Ajax would declare his hope was shattered...
Even though Yongbery no longer participated in the offense and went back to concentrate on defense, Koeman still did not let the team attack with all his strength.
It’s not that he is scared, it’s not that he has no dreams and ambitions.
But Ajax has not reached the best in this game.
In the former five-man front-court attack group, Ajax achieved the best.
Koeman also had fantasies about such attack groups, hoping that they could use earth-shaking momentum to destroy the arsenal, but things went against their wishes.
Ibrahimovic, Sneider, Van der Fate, Pinal, and Qin Xiong, these five players are still young after all and have not reached their peak.
It is too difficult to rely on five players to defeat Arsenal's stable defense while taking into account the defense and create obvious advantages.
After Corman corrected himself at halftime, Koeman made the last step of adjusting the chemistry of the team based on reality, it was obvious that this team still needed some time to re-run.
The good news is that Ajax still has time. Before the next game, they still have two league games and about half a month off. Koeman can hone the team again and let the players further get into and proficient after new changes.
The downside is that Ajax may go to Highbury and faces huge pressure and disadvantages in scores before the game begins.
"The whole game ended. The first leg of the Champions League 1/8 finals. Ajax drew 1:1 with Arsenal at home. The heroes of scoring the two teams were Van der Fate and Henry. This score was not good for Ajax. It was very difficult to defeat Highbury. We will wait and see what kind of excitement the two teams will show in the next match in half a month."
The game is over.
Qin Xiong squatted down on the spot. He was too tired. He ran all over the game in the first half. In the second half, he shuttled back and forth across the entire frontcourt.
He still felt a little bit of self-blame when he let the sweat drip on the turf.
He had a chance to end Arsenal.
If that long shot can be scored, the score will be 2:1.
Derong walked up from behind and pulled Qin Xiong up and signaled him to cheer up. Qin Xiong wiped his face and his expression became stubborn and unwilling.
Arsenal is strong, but it is not impossible to defeat.
The players of both sides shook hands friendly after the game. When Henry came to Qin Xiong, he calmly said to Qin Xiong: "Hey. He played well."
Qin Xiong stared at Henry and said lightly: "But I didn't win."
Henry signaled to exchange jerseys. Qin Xiong took off the jerseys with him, exchanged them with each other, then shook hands, put them on their shoulders, and left separately.
After thanking the home fans, Qin Xiong, Ibrahimovic, Sneider and Van der Fate walked side by side, and they began to discuss the game on the way from the court to the locker room.
Ibrahimovic did not complain, but told his situation in the game deeply.
He was double-teamed by Campbell, Toure, plus Silva and Vieira in front of him, and it was really hard to have room to play.
Sneider said that although Lauren seems inconspicuous, his physical fitness is really strong. If he wants to win in the confrontation, he cannot do it. Only by seizing opportunities and having room to get rid of them can he find opportunities.
Van der Fate didn't say anything, he had many opportunities, because Ashley Cole had a serious tendency to assist. Ashley Cole stepped forward and Van der Fate had more room. However, when Ashley Cole didn't step forward and defended in the backcourt, Van der Fate could only control the ball from the outside of the wing and develop into the penalty area, which was difficult to climb to the sky.
The teammates were communicating with each other, but Qin Xiong didn't say anything. Everyone saw the difficulties he encountered in the game. There is no need to talk about them. He had to move back and forth horizontally on the court to get rid of the opponent's blockade and find space to get the ball. If there is a running distance statistics for the whole game, Qin Xiong will undoubtedly be the first.
After listening to the teammates' remarks, Qin Xiong said bluntly: "What you are talking about is nothing more than a core issue. We cannot penetrate the offense into Arsenal's penalty area! The center is stared to death, the winger cuts inward and does not have the advantage, and the space is compressed by the opponent so much that they are not left. In front of the penalty area, they have two capable midfielders. We cannot easily pass straight with a team like The Hague and Forendan. One pass and run cooperate to hit the offense into the opponent's penalty area, and then form a threatening offensive. Right?"
The three of them were silent, which was the default.
When they returned to the locker room, they were still discussing. Qin Xiong told them: "The problem is already very obvious. We need to shorten the distance and strengthen the ability to cooperate in the frontcourt. If Zlatan cannot perform his ability in the penalty area, then we should withdraw. If Arsenal's back line follows him to keep a close eye on him, it just so happens that our two wingers have room to cut in, so we can try to pass the ball directly. If they don't follow, then in the frontcourt, our distance will be shortened and it is easier to cooperate and create opportunities."
The three nodded and agreed with Qin Xiong's statement.
After the game, Koeman did not attend the press conference as soon as possible. He returned to the locker room and watched the disciples discuss the game calmly.
Koeman also thought of the issues discussed by Qin Xiong and the others at the end of the game, but he was not in a hurry. He was happy to see the players discussing themselves and wait for the coach to repeat them again. In that case, it will help the team improve, rather than the head coach's unilateral indoctrination, and the effect will definitely not be particularly good.
After a big battle, everyone was a little tired.
The war is not over yet.
They have 90 minutes left.
So no one will be discouraged and his morale is not defeated. It can be said that this is completely different from the atmosphere after the game against AC Milan. If you lose when you fight AC Milan, the opponent turns his head and leaves. It seems that there is no need to care about it next time and the next encounter.
But today when playing against Arsenal, the two teams will have another game in half a month.
A 1:1 score is indeed not good for Ajax, but Ajax players don't particularly care about such scores.
After all, they didn't lose!
They also believe that they can win!
Koeman finally spoke, and he praised the players' performance. To be fair, not only did no Ajax team make mistakes in the game today, but each player is very hard-working and the sweat he puts in cannot ignore. Even if he does not get the most ideal result, the coach cannot blame the players.
The players recovered from fatigue after the game. Even if they were lying on the massage table and were relieved by the masseurs in the team, Ajax players were still discussing the game in a verbal way, expressing their views on the personal characteristics of Arsenal players, and giving each other a hint of how to prevent and restrict their opponents in the next fight.
Wenger said at the press conference after the game: "Arsenal has gone through a difficult battle and won a draw. This result is not safe for us. Ajax showed their potential and strength and created great difficulties for us in the game, especially their midfielder, Qin Xiong, a creative midfielder like him, is becoming increasingly rare. It is his outstanding performance in the second half that made the victory that Arsenal got flew away."
He focused on Qin Xiong's personal performance.
This made the reporters of the Dutch media off the stage feel resentful: Mom, is this professor trying to poach?
You should know that Wenger is famous for introducing young players with potential. I am afraid that many of the Ajax Youth Army are professors who want to take to Highbury.
Dutch journalists wanted to mock Wenger from the interview, so they ridiculed Arsenal as a Premier League giant and came to Amsterdam but did not dare to attack bravely. A group of "old guys" were not as passionate as a group of young people in Ajax.
Wenger answered the question lightly and then left.
His team took away a away draw with a score. The situation was good for Arsenal. He didn't have to talk to the reporters, so why bother?
However, when leaving Amsterdam, Wenger asked his assistant to collect information on Qin Xiong's career in the Netherlands.
It is no exaggeration to say that midfielder commanders like Qin Xiong are all salivating.
The most important point is that Arsenal does not have such a player, at least he can put his hands on the main position, no!
Chapter completed!