Ajax coach Frank de Boer has insisted his side will be just as keen as Manchester City to win Tuesday's Champions League clash at Eastlands.
The Dutch giants' 3-1 win over Roberto Mancini's men in Amsterdam a fortnight ago has left the English champions, who've just one point from three Group D games needing victory in this clash if they are to entertain realistic hopes of reaching the knockout phase.
But de Boer said Monday: "We want to be in the Champions League after the winter break as well.
"All the teams in this group do, and of course they want to have the nine points out of the three coming matches.
"We will give it a go to try to get a result here. Some of these teams will lose points and we will know who at the end of the match."
And the former Netherlands defender insisted four-times European champions Ajax wouldn't just try to hit City on the counter-attack.
"We are not going to throw it open but it is not our way to play defensively.
"We want to show the way we play at Ajax, whether it is at home or away."
It was that self-confident approach which helped Ajax upset the odds on their last visit to Manchester, when they stunned Old Trafford by beating City's local rivals Manchester United 2-1 in the Europa League last term.
"We showed it last season against Manchester United," said de Boer. "I think this group of players have already proved they can do it and I am not worried whether they really believe it.
"I want to see players who play bravely with their own qualities and maybe better. That makes you a better player if you can play your best under the highest pressure. A lot of players will have that tomorrow."
Source: AFP
