Ajax boss Frank de Boer says his team can cause an upset at Camp Nou on Tuesday night, although there will be no room for error.
The Dutch go into the Champions League clash with Barcelona having drawn both their opening group games 1-1, with Paris Saint-Germain and APOEL, and the former Barca player is confident of obtaining a positive result against the Catalans.
“We’ve played against the great teams and shown we have not been overawed by them,” he told a Press conference.
“In the Champions League we have grown and are convinced we can win this match. I hope people will see the best of us and that my players show what they can do – play well.
“They are Ajax players and have undoubted quality but we are up against a strong side and they must show that quality.
“Against Barca we cannot afford to make any mistakes, yet after the latest results in the Champions League the pressure is on both of us, so they want to get a good result as well,” said De Boer, who is hoping his players remain true to their style.
“The important thing is to play with our style and confidence. If we do that then I’ll be happy.
“Right now Barca have more quality based on experience, while our team is very young and has to learn to play in these type of games.
“For us this is good as our players will get to know the level of this League.”
The 44-year-old acknowledged it will not be easy as they will be coming up against players of the calibre of Lionel Messi.
“Messi is at the highest level in everything he does and shows that in every game. He has been the world’s best player four times, everyone knows that, and if he does it a fifth time he’ll also deserve that.
“He is breaking all records and it is incredible what he has done because he is still young.
“He’s at the top of his game, at 100 per cent, and for me he’s the best in the world, a complete footballer,” he added.
