Madrid’s tormentor Tadic revels in Zidane-like zenith
Serbian credits clips of Real legend for Ajax’s huge Champions League upset
MADRID — Serbian midfielder Dusan Tadic said retired French superstar Zinedine Zidane helped inspire what he described as the game of his life in Ajax Amsterdam’s 4-1 drubbing of Champions League holder Real Madrid on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old laid on passes for Hakim Ziyech and David Neres to give Ajax an early two-goal lead at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, then capped a virtuoso display with a thunderous finish into the top corner to make it 3-0.
“This is probably the best game of football I’ve ever played,” Tadic told reporters after the last-16, secondleg match.
“We beat the best club in the world. I’m very proud and I think we made a lot of people happy tonight.”
Tadic, who joined the Dutch side last summer after four years at English Premier League struggler Southampton, utterly bossed the center of the pitch and dominated Real’s midfield trio of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro.
“Zidane was always my favorite player — maybe I was watching too many of his clips,” Tadic said of the former Madrid player and manager.
Ajax had been the better side in last month’s first leg in the Netherlands but lost 2-1.
The Amsterdam outfit showed no sign of an inferiority complex in the return and delivered a complete display that recalled the great Ajax team managed by Louis van Gaal that reached consecutive Champions League finals in 1995 and 1996.
“This was pretty close to perfection,” said beaming coach Erik ten Hag.
“Over the two matches we definitely deserved to progress to the next round. I enjoyed watching my team immensely this evening.”
Captain Matthijs de Ligt said the display would only encourage thoughts that Ajax’s 24-year wait for a fifth European title might soon be over.
“It was a real team performance.” he said. “The way our attackers tracked back to defend was great. We caused problems for Bayern Munich, who are one of the favorites, and we have just eliminated the holders. Who knows how far we can go?”
‘Everything against us’
Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal said he had never felt so awful after the triple Champions League holder was booted out of the competition in such a humiliating manner.
Real, which had won four of the past five editions of the competition, is almost certain to end the campaign empty-handed, having been knocked out of the Copa del Rey in the semifinals by Barcelona last week and having fallen 12 points behind the Catalans in La Liga.
“I think I have never felt this awful ... I do not know how to explain it,” Carvajal said after Ajax completed a 5-3 aggregate victory.
“This week everything has gone against us. Tonight we cannot look for excuses. Our opponents were better and they deserved to go through.
“We have to show our faces and not hide. Our season has been a piece of (expletive).”
Real, whose captain Sergio Ramos was suspended after intentionally getting a yellow card in the first leg, conceded early goals to Ziyech and Neres.
Tadic extended the lead in the second half and although Marco Asensio pulled one back for Real, Lasse Schone made it 4-1 with a freekick that fooled goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Real coach Santiago Solari did not hide his disappointment at the loss, which tied Madrid’s worst home showing in European competition, but said his players should be remembered for their enormous Champions League achievements.
“These players were champions of Europe three years in a row, now they have been knocked out and it’s a very sad moment which puts into perspective how difficult it is to win the European Cup,” the Argentine said.
“We are sad and feeling hurt, our huge efforts were in vain. We feel so bad. An infinite number of things happened in this game.”
Solari, who became coach in October when Julen Lopetegui was fired, is on thin ice after overseeing four consecutive home losses, but he ruled out resigning.
“I have not come here to give up, I am not considering anything like this,” Solari said.
“I cannot evaluate my work. We are obliged to act like professionals, and tomorrow we just have to get back to training.”
This is probably the best game of football I’ve ever played. We beat the best club in the world.” Dusan Tadic, Ajax midfielder