Ten Hag wants Ajax to 'immediately get on top' in Classic against Feyenoord

Erik ten Hag hopes that Ajax has learned from last Sunday's top match against PSV (2-2). Then the team from Amsterdam had to fight back from an early deficit and the trainer wants that that is not necessary again in the Classic against Feyenoord on Sunday.

Erik ten Hag hopes that Ajax has learned from last Sunday's top match against PSV (2-2).

Then the team from Amsterdam had to fight back from an early deficit and the trainer wants that that is not necessary again in the Classic against Feyenoord on Sunday.

"It is important that we immediately get on top of it, from the first minute. That way you get the pace in the match", Ten Hag told

Ajax TV

Friday

about the top match in the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Sunday.

In the first top match of 2021, Ajax already fell behind PSV after barely a minute, which then also came to 0-2.

"We then showed that we can come back from a backlog, but it does take a lot of strength," continues Ten Hag.

"The other way around is easier. If you score quickly, you are immediately in the game and you continue to grow. That must be the lesson of PSV. We have to be there immediately."

Ten Hag expects a tough match against Feyenoord, after Ajax also had a lot of trouble with FC Twente on Thursday.

He saw his team create many opportunities in the Grolsch Veste, but it needed two goals from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in the final phase to win 1-3.

"Feyenoord is determined and they are positionally good. We will have to play better than against Twente to get a lot of chances again. But we are capable of that. On the other hand, we have to pay attention, because Feyenoord is dangerous in the switch."

Overview: The last 14 Classics in the ArenA

2006/2007: Ajax-Feyenoord 4-1 © ANP

2007/2008: Ajax-Feyenoord 3-0 © ANP

2008/2009: Ajax-Feyenoord 2-0 © ANP

2009/2010: Ajax-Feyenoord 5-1 © ANP

2010/2011: Ajax-Feyenoord 2-0 © ANP

2011/2012: Ajax-Feyenoord 1-1 © ANP

2012/2013: Ajax-Feyenoord 3-0 © ANP

2013/2014: Ajax-Feyenoord 2-1 © ANP

2014/2015: Ajax-Feyenoord 0-0 © ANP

2015/2016: Ajax-Feyenoord 2-1 © ANP

2016/2017: Ajax-Feyenoord 2-1 © Proshots

'It's Amsterdam against Rotterdam'

For Ten Hag it will be his sixth Classic and he won four of the previous five.

Unlike the previous editions in De Kuip and the ArenA, there will be no public on Sunday.

"Of course we miss the fans and the experience, but we are now used to it", Ten Hag emphasizes.

"And even without an audience, this match unleashes extra things in the group. It is the number one against the number two. It is Amsterdam against Rotterdam. That is important to us and that will only increase in the coming days and hours."

The 189th edition of the Classic starts on Sunday at 4.45 pm in the ArenA and is led by referee Danny Makkelie.

The Rotterdammers are chasing their first victory against Ajax in Amsterdam since 2005 and if that succeeds they will be in points with Ten Hag's team.