Ten Hag compliments Ajax stars - after Champions League exit

Erik ten Hag gave his players a "big compliment" despite Ajax's exit from the Champions League at the hands of Benfica.

The Dutch side had been firm favourites to reach the quarter-finals having drawn 2-2 in Lisbon three weeks ago.

But they succumbed to a 1-0 home defeat on Tuesday night, going down to Darwin Nunez's second-half goal.

Nunez, linked with a move to the Premier League, headed home Grimaldo's free kick 13 minutes from time to score what proved to be the only goal of the game.

Ten Hag, whose future at the Amsterdam giants has also been called in doubt with reports linking him with Manchester United, said: "Our positional play was excellent. We were very good on the ball. I gave my players a big compliment.

Maybe only the creativity was lacking. So it's bitter that one moment of inattention means you're eliminated."

The Dutchman also defended his decision to wait until the 81st minute before making a substitution.

"I was still hoping for a moment of magic, from (Steven) Berghuis or Antony. We were dominating the match, so there was no reason to change things."

Prior to the match, Ten Hag had poured cold water on reports that he was eyeing up the Old Trafford job and taking extra English lessons.

"No, that (report) is not true," he said. "We (already) talk English at the club because there are a lot of foreign players in Holland and they are already educated in English."

Nunez was delighted at being the match-winner.

He told CNN Portugal: "It's a unique feeling and the first time I've reached the quarter-finals. I'm very happy, after a game that was very difficult and in which we knew we had to run, defend and attack.

"The group is united and we gave our all today. It's hard to explain the feeling."

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