• News

Ajax handed huge Champions League blow after covid-19 outbreak

Ajax
Getty Images
Advertisement

Ahead of their Champions League game with Midtjylland tomorrow, it appears Ajax might have suffered a blow regarding their available personnel.

Ajax have been dealt a major blow after a reported coronavirus break will see a number of their first-team stars miss out against Midtjylland in the Champions League tomorrow.

According to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Dusan Tadic, Davy Klaassen, Andre Onana, Maarten Stekelenburg are among those to have missed out on the 17-man squad which travelled to Denmark.

The report further claims that 11 players in total have contracted the virus – and new tests across the whole squad were carried out today.

The results from the latest round of testing will be revealed within the next 24 days.

In the event of any false positives, the players will fly out to rejoin their team-mates on Tuesday pending permission from UEFA.

A statement from the Dutch giants said: “Ajax will travel to Denmark with 17 players for the game against FC Midtjylland.”

“Kjell Scherpen and Brian Brobbey, among others, will be present.

“There will be a press conference on Monday at 6.45pm, where Erik ten Hag and Perr Schuurs will speak to the media. FC Midtjylland – Ajax starts on Tuesday evening at 9pm (CET).”

The Covid-19 chaos will be particularly disruptive to boss Ten Hag with both his first-choice goalkeepers, Onana and Stekelenburg, seemingly ruled out.

The club has not officially revealed the names of those who have tested positive and are not expected to do so.

Ajax will face Liverpool once more during the group stage of the most prestigious club competition.

The Dutch giants were defeated 1-0 at home by the Premier League champions earlier this month, and drew away at Atalanta on match-day two.

x