Juventus won’t panic when they host Ajax Amsterdam in the second leg of their Champions quarterfinal tie at Juventus Stadium on Tuesday evening at 9pm.
Midfielder Miralem Pjanic says while they should have gotten more out of the 1-1 draw in Amsterdam, they are a good side at home and should get through to the semifinal.
Pjanic explains: “We can and must beat Ajax.
“We definitely could have done more [in the first leg], but this is a team that has done really well at home.”
Juventus took the lead through a superb Cristiano Ronaldo diving header before Ajax equalised through David Neres’ curling shot.
STAR PLAYER: Ronaldo scored in the first leg. Photo: Robin van Lonkhuijsen/EPA.
Pjanic says Ajax are a side that likes to choke their opponents, but they won’t panic.
He explains: “They’re a side that put you under pressure and press hard they are a team that don’t allow you to play football. But we believe we can do it.”
The team from Amsterdam is sweating on the fitness of star player Frenkie de Jong.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who will join Barcelona at the end of the season, left the field with a hamstring injury in a Eredivisie clash over the weekend.
INJURY WORRY: Frenkie de Jong (left) is a key player. Photo: Piroschka van de Wouw/Reuters.
Coach Erik ten Hag explains: “He felt something wrong with his hamstring and so we took him off as a precaution.”
De Jong though was included in the squad that travelled to Italy yesterday.
Ajax will already be missing Arsenal transfer target and leftback Nicolas Tagliafico, who is suspended for the clash.