The former Dutch international bemoans Ajax’s inability to retain its star players who eventually leave the capital to play for more prestigious outfits of the Old Continent.
Ajax Amsterdam head coach, Frank de Boer, has admitted that reaching the knock-out stages of UEFA Champions League is difficult, as every year his side loses its key players in the transfer window.
The Amsterdammers put in a solid performance to secure a 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the last-32 of UEFA Europa League last year.
However, victim of their own success, the Amsterdammers saw several of their key players including http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vurnon-Anita-c36486 moved away from Amsterdam Arena for greener pastures in the summer transfer window.
And the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 player has admitted that it is difficult to compete against the best teams in Europe with a relatively new squad every season.
“Last year we gave a good performance away against Manchester United. But now I have five new players in my team so I have to start all over again. I have won the last two Dutch titles so I want to see us make the next step by progressing in Europe. But
that is very difficult when our two best players of the season, Jan and Vurnon, went to England”, De Boer was quoted as saying to BBC.
Vertonghen represented the Amsterdam in well over 100 games, before leaving the Eredivisie champions to join Tottenham Hotspur, while Anita donned the jersey of De Joden in 104 league games before moving to Newcastle United earlier this summer.
“Jan was our captain and it is not easy to replace that kind of player. He was just getting to really be our leader but now he is gone. That's why it is so difficult to reach the next level in the Champions League, let alone to win it”, De Boer concluded.
Ajax have failed to progress through the knockout round of the Europe’s primary club competition since 2006, when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 Milan knocked them out of the competition with a 3-2 aggregate win in the Round of 16.
Tags: