Frank de Boer's Ajax to attack Celtic with caution

25 November 2015 20:16

Boss Frank de Boer insists Ajax will use their heads to attack Celtic in their crucial Europa League clash at Parkhead on Thursday night.

The Hoops are bottom of Group A with two points from four fixtures with the Dutch side one point better off while already-qualified Norwegian outfit Molde sit top with 10 points and Fenerbahce lie second with five points.

And though a draw at Celtic Park would not necessarily put either side out - unless Fenerbahce beat Molde - de Boer, with a measure of caution, is going for the victory which would give his side a better chance of reaching the knockout stages.

The former Rangers and Holland defender said: "Both teams have to win, we will not have the door open for them but we will be attacking because we need to win.

"We are not crazy of course, we have respect for Celtic.

"We have to play very compact, that is the most important thing, and play with confidence.

"If you analyse the last Ajax versus Celtic game (in September) we started quite nervous and were behind twice and finally got a 2-2 draw which I think was a good result as they had some good chances to win that game.

"So hopefully the players have the confidence that they can beat Celtic."

De Boer played down Celtic's midfield crisis which sees Nir Bitton and Stefan Johansen suspended, skipper Scott Brown possibly out for up to 12 weeks with a knee injury and Kris Commons likely to be missing again with a combination of a hamstring injury and illness.

The Dutch side arrived in Glasgow with midfielders Riechedly Bazoer, Daley Sinkgraven, Thulani Serero and forward Anwar El Ghazi missing with the Ajax boss saying of the Scottish champions: "They still have good players in their squad".

De Boer lost twice at Celtic Park while playing for Rangers in the 2003/04 season and his Ajax side were defeated 2-1 at Parkhead in their Champions League group game in 2013.

"It is fantastic, a great atmosphere," said the Dutchman.

"It is the kind of stadium you dream of playing in as a youngster and hopefully tomorrow night it is the same and a good experience for our players.

"The Celtic players are used to that but not our players."

While Celtic have failed for the second successive season to reach the Champions League and are struggling in the Europa League, De Boer believes the Parkhead club are missing their traditional Ibrox rivals, who are making their way through the leagues after re-emerging in the bottom tier following financial problems in 2012.

The Govan club are currently top of the Scottish Championship and hoping to return to the top flight next season.

He said: "Normally they (Celtic) dominate in their own league but don't get good results in Europe.

"It is a pity in the last four years that they couldn't play against Rangers because that brings something extra in the league and now it is 99 per cent (certain) again that Celtic will be champions.

"I think it is good for the competition that Rangers will be back and fight for the title again."

Source: PA