Ajax Amsterdam vs Lyonnais - Peter Bosz looking for 'incredible' performance against Lyon

Posted Wednesday, May 03, 2017 by PA

Ajax head coach Peter Bosz believes only an "incredible" performance will see his side get past Lyon to reach the Europa League final.

The Eredivisie club, European champions in 1995, host their French visitors on Wednesday evening as May 4 falls on a Dutch national holiday for Remembrance of the Dead.

Despite the significance of the clash, Bosz is confident the players can rise to the challenge against the Ligue 1 side, who are targeting a qualification route back into the Champions League having seen their domestic challenge for the top three fade.

"There are only good teams in the semi-finals. Lyon definitely fits that description, and so does Ajax," said Bosz, whose team have won their last six home games in European competition and edged past Schalke in the quarter-finals.

"We will need to be in top form for both matches in order to reach the final and that is what we are planning to do."

With defenders Nick Viergever and Joel Veltman suspended, Jairo Riedewald and Kenny Tete are set to step into the Ajax rearguard.

"I have total confidence in them, because they're both outstanding players," added Bosz at a press conference, quoted on the club's official website.

"Of course it's going to be tough, but that's football. Now, they will need to play an incredible match in the semi-finals, and I am convinced that they will do just that."

Ajax are currently four points behind Feyenoord in the race for the Eredivisie title.

However, the Amsterdam side come into Wednesday night's European tie on the back of a 1-0 defeat at third-placed PSV Eindhoven and have not played since because of the Dutch KNVB Cup final between Vitesse Arnhem and AZ Alkmaar.

Captain Davy Klaassen believes the break will have given the Ajax players refreshed focus.

"We went from the euphoria of Schalke directly into the disappointment of PSV, and I noticed that everybody was ready for a few days of rest," the midfielder said.

"Now we have started again with renewed energy and fresh courage."

Lyon, who beat Turkish side Besiktas in the Europa League quarter-finals, returned to winning ways after defeat at Ligue 1 leaders Monaco with a 2-1 victory at Angers on Friday night.

Manager Bruno Genesio has concerns over the fitness of midfielder Corentin Tolisso and star striker Alexandre Lacazette, but both players were named in a 21-man group which headed to the Netherlands.

Lacazette, who has scored 30 goals in all competitions, has not played since suffering a thigh injury away against Besiktas on April 20, while Tolisso suffered an ankle problem in Angers.