‘We deserved to reach the Champions League final’, says Frenkie de Jong
Ajax was left heartbroken as they conceded a goal in the 96th minute in the match against Tottenham, resulting in last minute 3-2 victory.
Leeds: After suffering a loss by Tottenham Hotspurs in the semi-final second leg of the Champions League on Wednesday (local time), Ajax FC's midfielder Frenkie de Jong said that the team deserved to be in the finals, given the way the team played in the whole competition.
"I think we deserved to reach the final, given the way we played throughout the tournament and also in the first half tonight. In saying that, Spurs also earned their right with that second-half performance," goal.com quoted De Jong as saying.
"I think everyone enjoyed what we did in the Champions League this season, it was like a fairytale. Unfortunately, it was one with an unhappy ending. So disappointing to give it away in the last few seconds," he added.
Ajax was left heartbroken as they conceded a goal in the 96th minute in the match against Tottenham, resulting in their last minute 3-2 victory in the semi-final second leg.
Ajax had won the first leg semi-final 1-0 against Tottenham, but by suffering a 3-2 loss in the second leg, they were knocked out of the tournament as Tottenham progressed 3-3 on away goals to the finals of the Champions League.
"We showed in patches what we were capable of. But in the second half, they caused us a lot of problems. It is indeed the third tie in a row in which we've won away but failed to do so at home. I don't really know why," de Jong said.
"We always try to play the same, home or away. And if we'd kept up our first-half performance we could definitely have won this evening," he added.
Ajax stunned both Real Madrid and Juventus to progress to the semi-finals stage of the tournament.
They are still in line to win their domestic championship and they next take on FC Utrecht on May 12.
The finals of the Champions League will be played on June 1 between Liverpool and Tottenham at Madrid.