Dusan Tadic responded on ESPN to his earlier interview with NU.nl after Ajax v NEC (1-1). He took aim at the media, saying they twisted his words.
"Yes, a very strange day. Strange match. Very emotional," Tadic begins. "Ajax are my love and will always be in my heart. But on the other hand I now play for NEC, and as a professional I have to give everything for the club. It was a bit of an emotional battle."
Before kick-off, the Ajax fans unveiled a large banner for Tadic and it clearly moved him. "I have a lot of memories here in this stadium, then a lot of emotions come out. Yes, that is beautiful, but also emotional. You see so many familiar faces, supporters... That is always in your head," he says with tears in his eyes.
Milan van Dongen then puts Tadic's earlier comments to NU.nl to him. "I regularly make preparatory actions and don't get the ball. Or I don't get it back after a few touches. Then apparently my brain works too fast. I find it hard, I am often battling with myself and then there is a storm in my head," the veteran said there, among other things.
"To be honest, it is a shame," Tadic now says on ESPN. "I have so much experience and I know that the media are always looking for something. You can twist words, the context... I would never disrespect people at NEC. Never. I have never done that in my life. But you cannot compare NEC and Ajax, and I do not mean that in a bad way."
"I do not say a single bad word about NEC, I know what I said. But it is very sad to see this in the media. It happens far too often. I do not know why. Because in this way you make sure players no longer want to give interviews. But that is not how I am."
He then expands on those earlier comments. "Ajax are a top-10 club in Europe, in terms of history, players who have played here, all aspects. NEC are a great club, in the sub-top. They had a very good season last season, now we are going into Europe, we are growing. With a great coach, a good structure. The club are growing."
"But if you ask me who have the better players, Ajax or NEC? It is easier to play with good players than with less good players. But should I then only give interviews on camera, so that you hear what I mean? That is sad. That does not feel good," he concludes.