Ziyech to return for Ajax against Chelsea as Lampard looks to Dutch team for inspiration
Record ID:
1437979
Ziyech to return for Ajax against Chelsea as Lampard looks to Dutch team for inspiration
- Title: Ziyech to return for Ajax against Chelsea as Lampard looks to Dutch team for inspiration
- Date: 22nd October 2019
- Summary: AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (OCTOBER 22, 2019) (REUTERS) AJAX WARMING UP DALEY BLIND, ERIK TEN HAG AND PRESS OFFICER COMING IN (SOUNDBITE) (English) ERIK TEN HAG, COACH AFC AJAX, SAYING: "Last year was last year and now we are building a new team and we develop a new team. We are starting the season and I think we started the season very well and now we have to step up and becoming from game to game better and sometimes you fall down but then you also have to step up again and be better and be developed and (that) is only possible when you play out of your philosophy and only with the attitude that you want to better every day." STRIKER KLAAS-JAN HUNTELAAR TRAINING WITH AJAX DEFENDER DALEY BLIND TRAINING WITH AJAX MIDFIELDER DONNY VAN DE BEEK TRAINING WITH AJAX (SOUNDBITE) (English) DALEY BLIND, DEFENDER AFC AJAX, SAYING: "I prepare myself like I always do, we have to prepare not only against a striker but against their whole team. We attack as a team and we defend like a team. So I think that's the most important thing." COACH ERIK TEN HAG TALKING TO AJAX PLAYERS DEFENDER DALEY BLIND TRAINING WITH AJAX (SOUNDBITE) (English) ERIK TEN HAG, COACH AFC AJAX, SAYING: "I think two things. First: last season was last season and we have to forget that now because we live in the future, we live now. And now we have to perform. And this team it's a different team and it's a little bit different also in the tactic but it is normal because we lose players and players we get in are a little bit different types. Every player has his own identity and we are playing a little bit different but I think it can still be a strong team and I believe it is a strong team and I believe we can develop and we can again be very successful." ERIK TEN HAG WATCHING HIS TEAM HAKIM ZIYECH TRAINING WITH AJAX DALEY BLIND TRAINING WITH AJAX (SOUNDBITE) (English) DALEY BLIND, DEFENDER AFC AJAX, SAYING: "I am not that old yet, but yeah it was that it worked out this way I wouldn't believe it as well in the beginning that we get into the semi-final of the Champions League last year but like the manager said: last year was last year but I am proud that I was a part of it and a part of the growing team that we are now. I am just trying to help the team were I can and it's possible to help the youngsters to go through in the first team and I am very happy with my role in Amsterdam and I am proud that I am a part of it." EXTERIORS OF THE ARENA (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRANK LAMPARD, HEAD COACH OF CHELSEA, SAYING: "A really tough match against a team we know how they performed last year and now they started at this group winning both games comfortably so it is going to be a tough match. The five wins in the English competition don't mean a thing rather than hopefully we have some confidence but this will be a completely different challenge with we feel to be ready for." FRANK LAMPARD SITTING AND LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FRANK LAMPARD, HEAD COACH OF CHELSEA, SAYING: "Yeah I mean I aim to get in confidence because I believe in them and what Ajax did last year was incredible, to come as far as they did with such a young team. And with us I think you see my belief in them because even we had a transfer ban and it is the only option I have that is not true and I have a lot of options in the squad and I made the options on the players that should play, and the young players have shown and I believe in them." (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIKAYO TOMORI, DEFENDER, SAYING: "No we are a young team and we always talk about playing in the Champions League and you know these are the kind of games we going to be playing and you know, high pressure games and big games. Yeah we are excited, we relish the opportunity and hopefully you know tomorrow we can go out there and put in a good performance and put ourselves in a good position for the next round of the group games." FIKAYO TOMORI LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FIKAYO TOMORI, DEFENDER, SAYING: "No I think it depends on the situation. You know sometimes you know as a defender you have to make a decision just on the spot and you have to go and mark them or sometimes you have enough time to communicate to the midfielders in front of you so I think that I am sure of the game tomorrow for all those different situations we just have to do it and that is just part of the game."
- Embargoed: 5th November 2019 20:14
- Keywords: Champions League Ajax Chelsea Frank Lampard
- Location: AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
- City: AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
- Country: Netherlands
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001B26K6KF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Midfield maverick Hakim Ziyech is likely to return for Ajax Amsterdam when they host against Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday (October 23).
Ziyech pulled out of international action for Morocco last week and missed Ajax's win over last-placed RKC Waalwijk in the Dutch league but coach Erik ten Hag said he was likely to feature in the Group H match.
It will be a major boost for Ajax as Ziyech played a leading role in their 3-0 win over Lille in their opening group game last month. He then scored in the 3-0 victory against Valencia.
Ajax lead Group H with six points, three ahead of Chelsea. Despite their place in the standings, Ten Hag said there was no way they could be considered as favourites for Wednesday's game.
Ten Hag also had little time to reflect on Ajax's unexpected run to the semi-finals last season before they were beaten by Tottenham Hotspur.
"Last season was last season," he told reporters.
Ajax's exploits last season is proof that a young squad can go far and Chelsea will look to them for inspiration, the Premier League club's manager Frank Lampard said on Tuesday (October 22).
A young Ajax side under Erik Ten Hag upset heavyweight teams such as Real Madrid and Juventus in the competition's knockout stages last season before their fairytale run was ended by Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals.
Lampard has also resorted to picking academy players this season with Chelsea operating under a FIFA-enforced transfer ban but the former English midfielder said he was promoting young players based on merit rather than out of compulsion.
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