The former Dutch International believes that the Amsterdammers cannot live up to their past glory and cannot compete successfully in Europe.
Legendary Dutch goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar, has revealed that Ajax Amsterdam will never reach the high echelons of European competitions.
The former Manchester United goalkeeper also added that the Amsterdammers are unlikely succeed in the Champions League if the situation does not improve.
Van der Sar started his professional career with Ajax in the summer of 1990. During his nine-season stay, spanning 226 matches, he managed to lift 14 titles including four Europe trophies.
The former Manchester United shot-stopper is of the opinion that the Amsterdammers’ gap with the elite European clubs has increased, and winning a European title now seems like a farfetched ambition.
“To be honest, I do not think that Ajax will ever be able to compete with the top clubs in Europe again, regardless of how much I wish that wasn't the case” Van der Sar was quoted as saying to Voetbal International.
The 41-year-old went on to assert that Ajax might produce a repeat of their 1992 UEFA Cup ytiumph, but replicating the Champions League winning success of 1995 would be improbable in the coming years.
“It is more realistic to aim to replicate the performance of the squad from 1992 than that of the 1995 team. Ajax won the Uefa cup in '92 because we were quite fortunate with the draw. Ajax might be able to record an incidental success in the Champions League,
but I can't see them return to the top permanently”, Van der Sar concluded.
Ajax won their last major European title in 1995, when they defeated AC Milan 1-0 in Champions League final.
Van der Saar might sound harsh to some, but his words only state the obvious The crux of the situation is that the difference between the Eredivisie giants and elite European clubs has widened over the years and is set to increase even further.
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