Atlanta's De Roon: 'We won against Ajax to prove the papers wrong'

La Dea

needed just one point in Amsterdam to secure its qualification for the

Champions League

'

s knockout stage, yet with Luis Muriel's decisive goal, they won 1-0. 

“Perhaps we didn’t put in the best performance, but we did very well in defence and allowed Ajax hardly any opportunities. We are very happy with our qualification,” De Roon told the reporters.

“We usually play a lot more open, leaving spaces in defence, but we changed our approach today and defend a bit better. We are more solid this way, concede fewer goals, and above in Europe that allows us to survive.”

De Roon had a perfect chance to be the opener of the game in the first half, yet his shot from the edge of the box went out past the post.  

“I was frankly a little surprised that I got into that position! Duvan Zapata gave me a great pass, I didn’t hit it very well. Maybe I should push forward more, but my job is to keep the balance so Robin Gosens and Hans Hateboer can attack.

“I would like to score more goals, but as long as we keep getting results, I really don’t mind.”

Atlanta news before the match was overwhelmed by agitation and reports of a changing room tussle between

,

Papu Gomez

, and

Josip Ilicic

.<em>

But, there appeared to be no issues during the hugs after the match ended in the Johan Cruijff Arena.

“We are a team. After a result like this, which happened after everything that was in the papers, that means we are a great team,” remarked De Roon.

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