Ajax beat Sparta Rotterdam on Sunday, making it three wins in their last three games.

Abdellah Ouazane put Ajax ahead with a brilliant finish. Jens Toornstra levelled the score with a header, but minutes later, Tolu Arokodare found the back of the net for the ninth time in an Ajax shirt to restore the lead for Michel Sanchez's side.

In the first half, Ajax played quite well and had control of the game. In the second half, Sparta had several chances and put Ajax under serious pressure, but the Amsterdammers managed to hold onto their lead to secure the three points in Rotterdam.

Ajax have now climbed above PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie title race and are only three points behind league leaders Feyenoord. There have been hiccups along the way, but Michel Sanchez has generally done a very good job so far.

Ter Stegen opens up on Ajax's performance vs Sparta

Marc ter Stegen had a very good game against Sparta. He made a couple of crucial saves in the second half to keep Ajax ahead.

Speaking to ESPN after the game, Ter Stegen explained that he was pleased with Ajax's last three results.

"My day was good. I am very happy with the past week," Ter Stegen said.

"It was a big week with nine points from three matches. That is what we are looking for. Now we are putting other clubs under pressure."

Ter Stegen also opened up on the performance against Sparta and admitted that the home side did not make it easy for them and that they had to suffer in the second half.

"We didn't play very well," Ter Stegen said.

"We scored twice, and sometimes that has to be enough. Later in the match, we had to suffer. If you know how to do that, it is a great quality to have."

Ter Stegen went on to explain exactly what he meant by knowing how to 'suffer'.

"Sometimes you also have to defend and accept that the other team is playing a good game. In the second half, they were better than us and put us under a lot of pressure.

"Sometimes you have to accept that and make the best of it. You have to win your duels, and we did that. That is how I describe knowing how to suffer."

Ajax could have a very successful season

Ajax's last three games provide many reasons for optimism that the club could go on to have a very successful season.

The first reason is that Ajax look defensively a lot more stable out of possession. The high press has improved, and the mid block has been more organised. FC Groningen only managed to create three big chances, including a penalty,= and Ajax made it quite difficult for them to progress the ball forward. Atalanta only managed to create one big chance on Thursday night, and against Sparta, the Rotterdam-based club created very little until they scored. Sparta then put Ajax under a lot of pressure in the second half, but Ajax defended the box very well.

The second reason is that, against Sparta, Ajax proved they can win even when they do not necessarily play well. As Ter Stegen said, it is a great quality to have and is something a title-winning team needs to know how to do.

The third reason is that Ajax have played some very good football over the last three games. They created a lot of chances against Groningen, were dominant against Atalanta and controlled the first half against Sparta.