De Boer rues Ajax´s Camp Nou collapse

Ajax manager Frank de Boer was frustrated with his side’s second-half performance in the 4-0 loss to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League.

The Dutch champions trailed 1-0 at half-time following Lionel Messi’s thunderous free-kick in the Group H fixture, which marked the first competitive meeting between the two sides.

Messi added a second in the 55th minute and Gerard Pique made it three before the Argentina international completed his hat-trick to hand Gerardo Martino a comprehensive victory on his Champions League debut.

And De Boer, a former Barca player, was left to rue Ajax’s inability to build on a solid first-half display at Camp Nou.

“I was satisfied with the first half,” he said. “We almost created as many chances as they did.

“It is a shame that very quickly in the second half we conceded the second goal.

“We also gave away two goals at the end. That is what really annoys me.”