Marco Reus: Borussia Dortmund weren’t aggressive enough against Ajax

Marco Reus feels that a lack of aggression and energy in duels cost Borussia Dortmund heavily during their 4-0 defeat to AFC Ajax on Tuesday. 

Borussia Dortmund received a stark reality check on Tuesday evening as they suffered a 4-0 thrashing away to AFC Ajax on matchday three of the UEFA Champions League group stage. It was a well deserved defeat for the Black and Yellows, who simply failed to cope with Ajax’s scintillating attacking football.

Marco Reus said after the game that Borussia Dortmund were made to pay because they weren’t aggressive enough and made things too easy for Ajax.

"“We weren’t aggressive and didn’t go into the duels with energy,” Reus said on Amazon Prime Video after the game. “That was the problem. We had imagined it differently. It’s not easy to find the right words. It wasn’t in the plan to go down like this here. We have to regroup now and analyse this (result).”"

Marco Reus also took the blame for his own goal which gave Ajax the lead in just the 10th minute. The Borussia Dortmund captain inadvertently headed Dusan Tadic’s free-kick into the back of his own net. And he said after the game that he misjudged the flight of the ball.

"“Ajax had many opportunities, the first goal was clearly my fault, I misjudged the ball. We had a few chances through Erling, but we didn’t take them. Ajax came out on top in the end because they were the better team.”“The way we conceded the goals and the fact that Ajax had so many chances, it’s too easy.”"

Borussia Dortmund never really recovered after conceding the opening goal. And Daley Blind doubled Ajax’s lead mid-way through the first half. Antony and Sebastien Haller then inflicted further damage on the Black and Yellows by adding to the scoreline after the break.

Julian Brandt said that the defeat was a lesson for Borussia Dortmund, and added that their heads dropped after the second goal even though the game wasn’t totally lost yet.

"“It certainly was a lesson for us and we were shown our limits against a very, very good team. At 2-0 down our heads dropped, even though the game wasn’t completely lost at that point.”"

Borussia Dortmund are still second in their Champions League group and will be looking to gain a measure of revenge against Ajax when the two sides meet again in two weeks’ time at the Signal Iduna Park.