De Boer: Ajax were naive in defence

Ajax coach Frank de Boer says his side were taught a lesson in counter-attacking in their 3-0 Champions League Group D loss against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

The Eredivisie side started the match at Santiago Bernabeu brightly, but fell behind after a superb Real Madrid raid in the 25th minute and were unable to find a way back into the match.

“We saw a lesson in counter-attacking football tonight,” de Boer said.

“We controlled the game well, but we had set a target to play on the counter-attack. I had already warned my team that Madrid were dangerous on the break and you have to be smarter than we were for the first goal.”

De Boer said Ajax should have been tougher.

“It’s not a matter of fouling their players but if you see Cristiano Ronaldo in the middle of the pitch when he’s passing with his heel to Kaka then perhaps those are moments when you should foul him because when he’s on the floor he can’t receive the pass back a couple of seconds later,” he said.

“In the second half, the same thing happened and we had to learn a very difficult lesson.”

“The second goal was similar, there was a foul in their area and four seconds later the ball was in the back of our net.”

“There’s no question that when playing against Ronaldo you have to stop him in any way possible and we were quite naive. So this is why I have a bitter taste after this match.”

“We started well and could have taken the lead early on. After that we got taught a lesson in efficient counter-attacking football. Sometimes we are a bit naive.”

“Our first objective was to play our own game. We did that in the opening exchanges. That should have eased some pressure from the players. However, if there is space behind you there is always a threat.”

“Madrid have so much quality they are always dangerous and always likely to produce something on the break.”

Ajax sit third in Group D with only one point from their opening two games, while Madrid sit top of the table with six points.