Nigerian striker Chuba Akpom has shared his mixed feelings about his performance for Ajax in their recent 3-1 victory over AEK Athens in the UEFA Europa League.
Despite scoring a crucial brace that contributed to the win, Akpom expressed disappointment in not capitalizing on additional goal-scoring opportunities.
In the match against AEK Athens, Akpom’s two goals played a pivotal role in securing the victory for Ajax. The result ensured that Ajax finished third in their group, securing a place in the Conference League despite being eliminated from the Europa League.
However, Akpom, who is keen on establishing himself as a regular starter at Ajax, wasn’t entirely satisfied with his performance.
The striker believes he could have converted more chances to score additional goals. Akpom had nine shots on goal and missed three significant opportunities during the game.
Expressing his frustration, Akpom emphasized the importance of taking advantage of goal-scoring opportunities, especially in his role as a striker.
Despite the disappointment, he acknowledged his commitment to improving and training diligently to enhance his goal-scoring instincts.
“This was a day when I could have come back with the ball [With a hattrick],” Akpom said, per nu.nl
“I’m happy that we won, but as a striker I’m angry about the last chances. I train on this every training session.
“Sometimes you can’t even sleep. I really enjoy scoring goals. I often act on instinct. But these times I had too much time to think.”
With competition for playing time at Ajax, Akpom recognizes the need to consistently perform at his best to earn a regular spot in the starting lineup.
Coach Van’t Schip has shown a preference for Steven Berghuis, and Akpom understands that delivering consistent and impactful performances is crucial to securing his place in the team.
