After drawing 2–2 with Inter Milan at home, Ajax still occupied the top spot, but they had also come under considerable criticism.
The main concerns were the team's ability to control the tempo and the defending of Eredivisie teams.
Gazzetta dello Sport was quite blunt in pointing out that without Yang Yang, Ajax would have been in serious danger against Inter Milan and might not even have had much chance of winning, because they had wasted too many opportunities.
"More importantly, they exposed their own problems and shortcomings in this match."
The Champions League was, in fact, a competition that tested each team's weaknesses. Ajax had displayed their strengths in their opening match against Bayern Munich. Against Inter Milan, they had retained those strengths, but their weaknesses had been exposed.
They were young, inexperienced, and shaky in defense. All of these were serious problems.
Overall, however, Gazzetta dello Sport and the other European media had praised Ajax's performance.
Still, they maintained their reservations, believing that although Ajax had been eye-catching, qualifying from the group would be extremely difficult.
Ajax and Inter Milan had both won one and drawn one for four points. Bayern Munich had beaten Tottenham Hotspur 4–2 away to claim three points and move into third place, while the North London side had fallen to fourth after two straight defeats.
"The real test for Ajax will come in their next two group-stage matches, when they face Tottenham Hotspur home and away. Pochettino's team is also adept at pressing high, and the clash between these two sides will be a thrilling battle."
"More importantly, the North London side has suffered two straight defeats. They urgently need to take as many points as possible from Ajax to turn around their unfavorable position in the group."
"It can be predicted that