Juventus vs Ajax: Massimiliano Allegri insists he will remain at club after shock Champions League exit

The Juve manager also reserved special praise for Cristiano Ronaldo

Massimiliano Allegri has insisted he will remain at Juventus next season after the club crashed out of the Champions League with a 2-1 home defeat to Ajax.

The Italian champions looked poised to advance to the semi-finals after Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with a fantastic first-half header, but Ajax responded just six minutes later through Donny van der Beek to hang the tie on a knife-edge at 2-2 on aggregate.

But after a blistering start to the second-half that left Juventus floundering, it was the 19-year-old Ajax captain, Matthijs de Ligt whose header clinched another fairy tale victory for the Dutch side, who will no face either Manchester City or Tottenham in the semi-final.

Speaking after the full-time whistle, Allegri said: “Ajax clearly deserved the victory, especially in the second half. They had a bit of luck with their quick equaliser but they played very well after the break.

“I think we also played well in the first half, it’s a pity that in the second half we didn’t have enough patience and the team was divided, allowing Ajax to dominate in midfield.

“I always say that in order to win the Uefa Champions League you need to be at peak form when it counts. In the last month we have been struggling with several injuries – even tonight we were missing important players – so it was not easy to reach top form.”

Allegri also reserved praise for Ronaldo who has been instrumental in the club’s success this season, spurring them into the quarter-finals with an excpetional hat-trick against Atletico Madrid, as well as adding 19 Serie A goals in his first season in Italy.

Ronaldo celebrates scoring the opener for Juventus (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

“Ronaldo gave us a lot during the season and especially in the Uefa Champions League,” Allegri continued. “Ajax are a great team, I cannot say much to my players tonight.

“I already talked with the president, I will remain at Juve next season and we are already planning the next campaign.”