Ajax 0-2 Inter – De Vrij: ‘Crucial to win after two tough defeats’ | OneFootball

Inter emerged 2-0 victors over Ajax in the opening match of their Champions League campaign this evening, with two goals from French forward Marcus Thuram proving to be the difference between the two sides.

Speaking to Prime Video after the match, with quotes via FcInterNews, Inter defender Stefan De Vrij said “It was crucial to get the win and get results after two tough defeats. We performed well,” he said, “but we need to improve still. We did well today to take the lead and read the game and what it was all about: we won without suffering too much, well done to everyone.”

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – SEPTEMBER 17: Marcus Thuram of Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with team mates during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between AFC Ajax and FC Internazionale Milano at Johan Cruijff Arena on September 17, 2025 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

It was an important win, indeed, for the Nerazzurri. A defeat in last weekend’s Derby d’Italia against Juventus created a loss sandwich with an international break filling, having suffered a 2-1 loss to Udinese prior to the two weeks off.

Inter defender De Vrij: “We managed the game well”

De Vrij continued to discuss the win over Ajax, when a reporter asked him what impressed him most out of the performance or the result, “Both. The better you play, the easier it is to get a result. We always try to uphold our principles. Today we also did well not to concede.”

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 02: Stefan de Vrij celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 02, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“They had a chance on the counterattack but I don’t remember any great chances. We managed the game well and did what the match required.”

Inter are looking to bounce back from their 5-0 defeat in last season’s Champions League campaign as they attempt to win the tournament this time round.

Their next match sees them welcome Slavia Prague to San Siro on September 30, before travelling to Belgium to play Union Saint-Gilloise in October.