De Boer urges Ajax to be confident at Barca
Frank de Boer has urged his Ajax side to go into Tuesday's UEFA Champions League Group F tie with Barcelona full of confidence.
Ajax head to Camp Nou looking to avenge their 4-0 defeat in Catalonia last season, but also buoyed by their 2-1 win in the reverse fixture on home soil.
In Amsterdam last term, Ajax survived what proved a consolation goal from Xavi and a red card for Joel Veltman to pick up a famous win against the Spanish giants.
Himself a former Barca great, De Boer stated his side should go into the fixture full of confidence.
"We can get a result in this game," he said. "Last year [when Ajax defeated Barcelona in Amsterdam] we saw that we can get something from such a match.
"But, for that, we have to perform at our maximum level. Barcelona are at a higher level compared to us and have more experience. For every team playing here, it is difficult to collect points, but we will try.
"For me, the most important thing is that we play according to our style and with confidence.
"I believe that we have grown [compared to last season], and that we are not inferior to big teams. This is our moment; we just have to keep faith in our philosophy."
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Barcelona have been in fine form at home this season - boasting a 100 per cent record in all competitions without conceding a goal.
However, they lost their last Champions League match 3-2 against Paris Saint-Germain.
'People will remember us because we got to No.1 in the world rankings and achieved great things - but our biggest regret is that we didn’t win anything': Ex-Everton star Kevin Mirallas opens up on 'honour' of being part of nation's golden generation
‘I’m sure we’d have finished in the top four or five if he hadn’t joined Chelsea in January. Him leaving damaged the team, but we couldn’t stand in his way’: Alan Curbishley reflects on failed Champions League dream after selling key player