The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 player has put aside the Amsterdammers' chances of progressing through to the next phase of Europa League.
Johan Cruyff has insisted that Ajax Amsterdam should take Manchester United as an example to follow if they are to reach the heights of European football once again.
The Amsterdammers have failed to win any silverware in Europe since their UEFA Champions League triumph in 1995, when they defeated AC Milan 1-0 in the final.
After winning the Eredivisie title in the 2010/11 campaign, De Joden earned automatic qualification to compete in the Europe’s primary club competition. Their erratic showings in the group stage demoted them to the unfancied Europa League.
However, much to Ajax’s dismay, they were drawn against the Red Devils in the round-of-32. Both sides went head-to-head last week on Thursday, February 16, and the English side hammered the Dutch outfit 2-0.
Cruyff, who represented the Amsterdam giants in 240 matches and netted 190 goals, heaped praise on the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AZ-c38571 Alkmaar and FC Twente Enschede for their decent performances in their respective Europa League encounters.
AZ managed to record a 1-0 win over http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Twente-c39233 emerged victorious against Steaua Bucuresti by a 1-0 margin.
However, the legendary Dutch footballer admitted that Sir http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-c4752 Ferguson’s team is a far better side than Bucuresti, Anderlecht and Trabzonspor.
“Except Ajax, all the Dutch clubs did a good http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Trabzonspor-c40759 for instance”, Cruyff was quoted as saying to De Telegraaf.
The 64-year-old then went on to insist that the Amsterdammers should take inspiration from how Manchester United have become such a major force in European football.
“But if you want to get at the top, you have to take Manchester United as an example. United is the standard. Ajax did not stand a chance against the English side. They picked up the pace of the game and that is the standard if you want to reach the top”,
Cruyff concluded.
Tags: