Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder called his side's 6-1 Champions League humiliation at home to Napoli a result unworthy of the famous Dutch club before conceding that they are not at the same level as Liverpool and the Italians.
Playing in their own Johan Cruyff Arena, the Dutch side took the lead thanks to an early goal from Mohammed Kudus, but found themselves 3-1 down by half-time. Luciano Spalletti's team added two more after the break, before Dusan Tadic was sent off, leaving Ajax with 10 men, as Giovanni Simeone clocked up a sixth to maintain Napoli's 100% winning record in Group.
The result leaves Ajax third, three points adrift of Liverpool and six off the Italians, but Schreuder has already admitted that his team are unlikely to break into the qualification places as things stand.
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Speaking to RTL7 after Tuesday's match, he said: “1-6 seems flattering, but I thought Napoli was much better. They had a very good day and we had a very bad day. You saw that today, too. If you look at Napoli and Liverpool you will see that they are a size too big for us. That is obvious. I don’t think we are good enough as a team at the moment. I can say who has been sold, but that’s not the point.
“If you’re realistic, it gets harder and harder. We have to win there next week (at Napoli). We will have to take a different approach because this is unworthy of Ajax. This is unacceptable.”
Liverpool will travel to Ibrox to face Rangers again for matchday four next week, before taking on Ajax in Amsterdam on October 26. The Reds' final group stage match is at home to Napoli on November 1.
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