[ad_1]
Publication Date: Thursday, October 22, 2020 11:50 AM
Erik ten Hag and Rio Ferdinand have responded to criticism of Jurgen Klopp’s Ajax launch.
Klopp questioned the state of the field at the Johan Cruyff stadium after seeing Liverpool at his side hold out for a 1-0 win in Holland.
“I think both teams can play better football, it was pretty wild at times,” he said. BT sport.
READ MORE: European Super League? That they go forever
“I think the field was really tough, deep, a bit muddy, both teams seemed really exhausted at first.
“Three days ago he looked completely different, yesterday in training too, but it was also the same for Ajax.”
He later told Ziggo Sport: “Surprisingly, the field was not good. I thought a soccer team would have a good field.
“A few days ago, the players were flying physically, but they all seemed like today was very difficult.”
But Ten Hag scoffed at the suggestion that the playing surface was not good enough.
“Does Klopp say the launch was bad? I don’t think the pitch was bad, no, “he said.
“Hopefully we have a better pitch at Anfield then.”
BT Sport expert Ferdinand was equally surprised by the comments.
“Obviously it’s weird to hear that the field was a little soggy and stuff, which was sapping the energy in the legs, but they got over it and that’s all you need to ask of them,” he said.
Klopp also added praise for forwards Xherdan Shaqiri, Takumi Minamino and Diogo Jota, who replaced the usual three forwards Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane with half an hour to play and impressed against the Dutch champions.
“The three who entered are, first, in very good shape, fresh in a complicated and difficult game on a difficult field. That helps a lot and you saw that they helped a lot.
“Shaq won deviations, which is quite special. Taki in both directions, amazing between the lines. And Diogo is a machine so that he can punish opponents in one-on-one situations.
“We had these moments, unfortunately we didn’t finish them off. But it’s completely fine, it was important to them. “
[ad_2]