AJAX boss Alfred Schreuder spoke to the Rangers Review and various other media outlets ahead of the Champions League opener with Rangers on Wednesday.

Here is everything the 49-year-old had to say.

What are you expecting from Rangers?

They’re a very competitive team. I think they will try to press us in the beginning and I also think in the build-up they will like to play from the back because we know Giovanni very well. They’ll also have looked at our weakness. What I see is a team who wants to create an extra player in midfield and we have to be aware of that.

What impact has Calvin Bassey had since he joined?

I think it’s a great signing for us. We are very happy that he’s here and in our team. He’s a very positive guy with good energy in the team and he has good quality physically and also with the ball he’s improving. We’re very happy that he’s in our squad.

What did you think of Rangers' performance against Celtic and can you take advantage of any lack of confidence in the team?

No, I think it’s a very experienced team and experienced coach. I don’t think that it’s a good standard for us, that game. I look more at the PSV Eindhoven game, which is more important for us. Every game is a game in itself and that applies tomorrow. It’s a new challenge in the Champions League for us. We’re very curious about how we are and also how they are. They played a top game and with all respect, we played against Cambuur which is a different kind of game. We won and they lost but it says nothing about tomorrow.

Rangers Review: NewsquestNewsquest (Image: Rangers Review)

Did you see Antony for Manchester United on Sunday and were you happy to see him score?

Of course, we’re always happy with players from Ajax score abroad. That’s good and it’s good they had a good win. We are proud of our players.

The Sporting Director was strong in his quotes regarding the transfer window saying the last few days were very hectic and left a void for you to deal with. How do you think your squad is now that you’ve lost so many big players?

I think we have a good squad, very competitive but, of course, a lot of changes. It takes a little bit of time to get them in the system how we want but the first 11 in the last week have had longer in our squad but you get new players in the end and that will take a little bit longer to get them in the team. They know how Ajax is playing, they come from other countries so it takes a little bit longer but in the end I think our squad is good enough to have a good season.

How impressed were you with Rangers in Eindhoven and did you see much of their European run last season under Giovanni van Bronckhorst?

For Dutch coaches, it’s very nice to see it because we know him personally. They had a great run last year, they beat Dortmund and Leipzig and although they lost in the final but they did a great job. The game in Eindhoven, they played with a lot of courage. They took the moments in the game and controlled PSV sometimes at home. That shows that they are a good team.