Ajax: 5 Things We Learned

Manchester United's Europa League final opponents Ajax conducted a press conference and open training session at the Friends Arena on Tuesday evening. ManUtd.com was there to pick out the key points...

AJAX’S THOUGHTS WITH MANCHESTER
Ajax coach Peter Bosz began his press conference by addressing the assembled media. “I’d like to say something about what happened in Manchester yesterday,” he began in English. “I’ll do it in Dutch because I want to find the right words, and that’s already difficult.” He continued in Dutch: “Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. The terrible events have cast a shadow over the game. Of course, it will be a match that both teams want to win, but it will not be the football festival everyone hoped for.” The Ajax players went on to take part in a period of silence before their open training session at the Friends Arena. UEFA have confirmed there will be a minute’s silence before the final, the planned opening ceremony has been considerably reduced and both teams will wear black armbands.

DOLBERG IS THE PLAYER TO WATCH
Kasper Dolberg was an Under-19 player at the start of the season but is now Ajax’s top scorer with 22 goals. “His development has been incredible – he’s still only 19 but has big potential,” said Bosz. Asked whether he could be the new Zlatan Ibrtahimovic, the coach replied: “I hope not because I hate comparisons – I don’t believe there’s another Zlatan or [Dennis] Bergkamp. Kasper has his own identity, personality and qualities and I’m glad of it.”

‘WE’LL PLAY OUR OWN WAY’
“We can only beat Manchester United if we play our own game,” declared Bosz. “We’ve developed a style of playing this season that I’d call the ‘Ajax way’ and if we do that tomorrow, we have a chance.” Midfielder Lasse Schone added: “We’re two different teams with different styles of football but we have to be true to ourselves. We’ve shown throughout the season that we can handle the pressure.”

YOUNGSTERS NOT OVERAWED
Ajax’s vibrant team gave a glimpse of the quick, forward-thinking game they could play tonight during an open training session in which they showed plenty of tricks, flicks and pace. Ex-Reds goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw, who is working as a pundit with MUTV in Stockholm, told us he’s a fan of Ajax stopper Andre Onana, describing him as an “explosive sweeper keeper”. The 21-year-old Cameroonian spent a lot of the training session practising his footwork and making close-range saves.

IBRA WILL BE MISSED
Ibrahimovic is ruled out of a meeting with his former club in his homeland but he's set to be in Stockholm to support the Reds, along with fellow absentees Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Ashley Young. “Zlatan is a part of Ajax history,” said Bosz. “He’s had an unbelievable career and he’s still performing for a big club at his age. He should have played but he’s injured – that’s a fact. We’ll miss him tomorrow.”