Frank de Boer, coach
All the teams in this group want to be playing Champions League football after the winter break. But, of course, Manchester City want to get nine points from their remaining matches. We will try to get a result here. We are not going to throw it all open but it is not in our nature to play defensively. We want to show how we play at Ajax, whether we are at home or away.
City have a lot of quality. They have four terrific defenders and two defensive midfielders in front of these defenders. And the strikers have a lot of quality, although they will definitely miss David Silva. But they will still have some big names on the pitch.
I said before the game against Manchester City in Amsterdam that if we play our own game we can make it very difficult for anybody. We really have to believe. I want to see players that play bravely. Maybe it makes you a quality player if you play your best games under the highest pressure, and hopefully a lot of players will do that tomorrow.
Weekend result
Saturday: Ajax 0-2 Vitesse (Bony 38 46)
Vermeer; Van Rhijn, Alderweireld, Denswil, Blind; De Jong, Poulsen (Fischer 57), Schøne; Sana (Boerrigter 65), Eriksen, Babel.
• Vitesse condemned Ajax to their first defeat in 25 Eredivisie matches. They had won 18 games and drawn six since a 2-0 home loss to FC Utrecht on 5 February.
Team news
Niklas Moisander, suspended against Vitesse, was replaced by league debutant Stefano Denswil. Nicolai Boilesen (hamstring), Kolbeinn Sigthórsson (shoulder), Thulani Serero (groin), Davy Klaassen (groin) and Jody Lukoki (knee) are all sidelined.
