De Jong eyes European glory

Ajax attacker Siem de Jong says Ajax are determined to make an impact in Europe this season and replicate their successes of the past.

The Amsterdam giants have won European club football’s elite competition four times, and de Jong has made it clear that their impressive history serves as a motivation for them to do well.

“Our glorious history in Europe’s a motivation to succeed. People always expect a lot from Ajax and we will do our best to fulfil those expectations,” de Jong told the UEFA website.

“We hope to go as far as possible in the Champions League, but it would be very nice to finish third (in Group D). We’ll certainly play to win. We have nothing to lose, so we can play with freedom.”

De Jong looked ahead to next week’s encounter against Real Madrid, and is relishing the prospect of taking on Xabi Alonso.

“We’ve played against Real Madrid in the last two seasons and haven’t beaten them once. So it would be nice to play against someone like Xabi Alonso, and to go on and win that game,” he said.

Ajax host Madrid on October 3.