Alderweireld hails Ajax system

Ajax’s Toby Alderweireld has credited the football philosophy of Dutch master Johan Cruyff for their Champions League win over Manchester City.

Roberto Mancini’s charges needed a positive result from the game but were out-played by the Dutch side and succumbed to a 3-1 loss, and Alderweireld has hailed Ajax’s style of play as the deciding factor in the result.

“I think City aren’t used to playing against a team that plays like us,” Alderweireld told reporters.

“If we would just kick and rush we would have never won this game. They are too strong for that.

“But if you play like we did, they suffer from it. The idea that the club has, the trainer has and of course Johan Cruyff has – that idea won tonight.

“Of course you will lose sometimes, eventually this is the way to compete with a team like Manchester City. Real Madrid turned out to be a step too far, but we showed tonight what we’re capable of.

“This wasn’t an accident. That’s when you score three lucky goals and can’t play your own style. We showed quality today, because we won against Man City that had to win and started with their best players.”