In the third round of the UEFA Champions League, ten-man Ajax lost 1-5 to Chelsea. In an interview with the Dutch media "People's Daily", Ten Hag frankly admitted that Ajax is not competitive in the Champions League today.
In the 19-20 Champions League group stage, Ajax, coached by Ten Hag, once led Chelsea 4-1 on the road and eventually drew 4-4 with their opponent. Ten Hag said: "Maybe I am too romantic, but at the time I really felt that we completely suppressed Chelsea."
"The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge is always unparalleled, and I also experienced unforgettable games there when I coached Manchester United."
"Chelsea has always had excellent players, and now they have condensed into a strong unit, and Ajax does not have the Champions League competitiveness at the moment. But as long as a stable and wise team-building strategy is implemented, this situation will eventually change, and the road to growth is full of bumps."