Erik ten Hag admits loss to PSV is a 'wake-up call' for Ajax | OneFootball

Erik ten Hag blamed inferior fitness levels for Ajax’s heavy defeat to PSV in Saturday’s Johan Cruyff Shield clash.

Noni Madueke scored twice in the first half for PSV before Yorbe Vertessen and Mario Götze added insult to injury after the break.

The dismissal of left-back Nicolás Tagliafico just before the break had effectively killed off any hopes of a comeback by Ajax.

PSV have already played three Champions League qualifiers this summer, a factor which ten Hag insists had a major bearing on the result at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

“We still have too many players who are not completely fit on the field,” the Ajax manager said (per De Telegraaf).

“Then you don’t win these kinds of top matches.

“PSV has already played real matches, and we are actually still halfway through our preparations. We are not complete yet, and many internationals have only been working for a few weeks.

“But this is a wake-up call. PSV deserved to win, and we don’t win automatically.”

The defending champions have a week to get up to speed before they host NEC in their Eredivisie opener next Saturday.