Ajax manager John Heitinga said he wanted to compliment his players after a heavy 4-0 defeat away at Olympique Marseille.
Ajax suffered a record-equalling defeat away at Olympique Marseille, who beat Ajax with the same scoreline as Bayern Munich in 2004 and FC Barcelona in 2013. Manager John Heitinga wanted to compliment his players nonetheless.
"I have to compliment the lads," Heitinga told Ziggo Sport.
"We started well, but quickly conceded a goal. The lads played with courage, and we fought for each other. But everyone could see that Marseille were too strong for us today."
Olympique Marseille opened the scoring in the sixth minute, when Igor Paixao was sent into a wide-open one-on-one with Ajax goalkeeper Viteszlav Jaros. Paixao's goal came from a lightning-quick counter, from which Marseille scored three times against Ajax.
"I think we had a Champions League lesson tonight. I think pretty much every mistake was punished on the counterattack," said Heitinga.
"They really worked their socks off for each other. You're just playing against an excellent team that gave a Champions League lesson today."
Failing tactics
Heitinga employed a high press system against Marseille, whose players were man-marked in the opening phase. Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi had no problems playing through Heitinga's team, who were down 3-0 before the 30-minute mark.
"We tried to apply high pressure. At times, it worked well, but you conceded a goal. If it stays 1-0, then of course it's different. But you're 3-0 down at half-time. Then you try to get the lads to keep fighting, at least, and that's what they did."
Media and Ajax fans are widely calling for Heitinga to be sacked after a disappointing start to the season. The players often looked unmotivated, frustrated, and deflated against Marseille, and Heitinga unsuccessfully tried to turn the tide.
"I tried to motivate the lads, saying that crazier things have happened in the Champions League. But today we couldn't turn it around. We want to reach Champions League level, but we still have some growing to do," said Heitinga.
"It's frustrating for us too, but we work extremely hard together every day. This is a tough lesson we have to learn. We are a team under construction."
Whether or not Heitinga regretted any of his tactical decisions against De Zerbi, he swiftly answered: "No."
When Ziggo Sport presenter Sam van Royen confronted Heitinga with the frustration from the fans, who en masse took to social media to voice their frustrations and call for Heitinga's sacking, Heitinga wasted no time swatting away the criticism.
"I don't think you can speak on behalf of Ajax fans. It's frustrating for us too. I think it's frustrating for everyone. Marseille was too strong for us today. We work extremely hard together every day."