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."
Hougang United Football Club, one of nine clubs in the professional football league, has filed a police report against an employee after losing S$278,200 from its coffers. ADVERTISING A female administrative staff member, Tean Tai Tee, allegedly misappropriated the sales revenue from the clubhouse between Nov 29 and Dec 11 last year.
tiagong, this female employee hoot Hong Gan United Football
Everton players have "100 per cent belief" Marco Silva will get it right. It's five losses in six now for Everton boss Silva after defeat to previous employers Watford in front of their taunting fans
Watford - malaysia.shafaqna.com
malaysia.shafaqna.com/EN/MY/hashtag/Watford
Watford | Malaysia News is a newsreader (RSS reader) providing a summary of headlines and latest news stories disseminated in the reliable news sources from Malaysia News. Malaysia News reads latest regional, national and local headlines in English and Melayu.
Watford winger Richarlison to have medical at Everton on
The time off comes before Emery starts to prepare his charges for the Europa League final against Chelsea at the end of this month in Baku, Azerbaijan. A victory will mean the Gunners can claim a Champions League berth for the upcoming season and in terms of silverware it means it will be a profitable season for the Emirates Stadium outfit.
Unai Emery continues to make Arsenal defy expectation and
Rangers looked to strengthen their bid to win the Scottish Premiership title by announcing Sunday they had signed ex-England striker Jermain Defoe in a loan move. The 36-year-old Defoe, who has scored 162 goals in England's top flight, has joined Rangers from Premier League club Bournemouth in an 18-month deal.
Jermain Defoe completes loan move to title-chasing Rangers
Jan 22, 2019 · Jan. 22 (UPI) --Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo pleaded guilty to tax fraud in a Madrid Court Tuesday and agreed to pay $21.6 million in fines. Ronaldo also received a two-year suspended prison
Ronaldo fined €19m for tax fraud, avoids jail
Man City could get transfer ban: report, Football News & Top
Albirex Niigata FC (S) are looking to sew up the Singapore Premier League (SPL) in record time and will aim for a win over Young Lions at Jurong East Stadium on Wednesday.
Football: Fandi Ahmad's Under-22s aim to shine in Merlion Cup
usasportsradar.com/soccer/football-fandi-ahmads-under-22s-aim-to-shine-in-merlion-cup-despite-hari-raya-festivities/
Football: Lions can 'play to strengths' Footballer Ben Davis fails to report for NS ; Football: Four Albirex Niigata players to watch in the 2019 Singapore Premier League ; Football: Albirex Niigata still aim to win trophies despite squad overhaul
Geylang International aim to spoil Albirex Niigata (S
Football: Spurs shine to hit Everton for six LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Tottenham Hotspur showed why manager Mauricio Pochettino is a wanted man by thrashing Everton 6-2 at Goodison Park on Sunday (Dec 23) to close to within six points of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Football: Tottenham shine to hit Everton for six - Latest
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has admitted sending a member of his coaching staff to spy on Derby County ahead of their Championship (second-tier) match on Friday. Derby said earlier that local police had spoken to a person acting suspiciously outside their training ground on Thursday.
Leeds: Marcelo Bielsa admits sending spy to Derby training
Nazri - Racism Is The Last Refuge Of A Scoundrel. BN secretary-general Nazri Abdul Aziz said his speech, where he said a non-Muslim should not be an attorney-general, was merely a reflection of grassroots sentiment.
I believe in The Lions: Yoshida | Sportstons
sportstons.com/soccer/i-believe-in-the-lions-yoshida/
• In 2002, he signed for Jurong FC and played under V. Sundram Moorthy, then player-coach for the Cobras. • Retired in 2002 and returned to Reysol, where he rose through the ranks from youth-team coach to technical director and then the head coach. While at Reysol, he helped to produce national players like Marseille right-back Hiroki Sakai.
PDF Why Trust Is Critical to Team Success - Center for Creative
Japan began their quest to reach a third straight final with a poor goalless draw as Argentina earned their first ever point at a World Cup. The Japanese won the tournament in 2011 by beating the
Emotional Argentina claim first-ever World Cup point as they
0 comments:
Post a Comment