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John Heitinga sees improved Ajax draw against Go Ahead Eagles: 'Need to make steps'

Ajax manager John Heitinga said his team need to make steps after their 2-2 draw away at Go Ahead Eagles.

Ajax took the lead after three minutes thanks to Davy Klaassen and almost went up two thanks to Kenneth Taylor, but instead fell behind when Go Ahead Eagles powered through with Melle Meulensteen and Evert Linthorst.

Youri Baas salvaged a point in the dying seconds of the first half - a half Heitinga saw went both ways.

"You score that first goal and then it's up and down," Heitinga told ESPN after the match.

"It was better that we took a step forward in terms of organisation.

But you can also see that we don't always manage to keep up the pressure.

When things were going well, we were dangerous in transition at times.

"View all the statistics of Go Ahead Eagles - Ajax on BetopickAjax had a firmer grasp over the match in the second half, in which the Amsterdam giants controlled possession and barely gave away any chances.

"You want to step out earlier and higher.

That went a bit better in the second half.

In the first half, they had more possession than I had hoped.

"Before they scored that goal, we played well from the back and created chances.

But there are a number of things we need to work on.

"No start again for GloukhMany eyebrows were raised when Heitinga left midfielder Oscar Gloukh, who joined Ajax for nearly €15 million this summer, was left on the bench for the second straight week.

Ajax desperately missed creativity in the season opener against Telstar (2-0 win), but it was enough for Heitinga to put the Israeli midfielder in the starting lineup.

Gloukh was brought in at half-time because of a lack of creativity, Heitinga explained.

Ajax's Oscar Gloukh fires a shot on targetYannick Verhoeven, Parallax Pictures / Alamy / Profimedia"You want some more creativity.

I wanted to get Steven Berghuis into the '10' position to get him more involved in the game.

He was a bit isolated.

That had to do with Go Ahead Eagles' style of play.

"After the substitutions, we got into it a bit better and then got the ball a bit more.

You have to take steps, and we've been working at it for five or six weeks now.

"Ajax continue their season with a home game against Heracles Almelo, who come to visit the Johan Cruyff ArenA on Sunday, August 24th.

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