Ajax will continue the Champions League adventure on Tuesday with an away match against Atalanta, last season’s quarter-finalist in the billions ball. Hans Hateboer is eagerly looking forward to the confrontation with the Amsterdam club at the European tournament. Atalanta’s right back is particularly impressed by one player on the side of the oncoming opponent.

“Daley Blind is a strong and intelligent player”, Hateboer reports in the Italian media on Monday in the run-up to Tuesday’s home game with Ajax. “He has a lot of qualities. He always reads the game very well, but he is not the only good player at Ajax.” The Orange-international was satisfied after the draw for the group stage of the Champions League. “This is really special for me. With FC Groningen I have of course often played against Ajax. But it is special to meet Ajax with a foreign team now. It is a shame that there is no audience allowed. Family and friends of mine were here. like to come over. “

Hateboer was also asked how people view Atalanta in the Netherlands. “I have read very different things”, the right-footed fullback continues his analysis prior to Tuesday evening’s encounter. “I have read that it will be an easy evening for Ajax, but also that it will be a difficult evening for them. In the Netherlands they have of course also seen what we have achieved in a European context at Atalanta Bergamo in recent seasons.”

The also present head coach Gian Piero Gasperini calls Ajax a ‘tactical laboratory’. “Although there are certainly differences in tactics between the two clubs. Ajax has always been a point of reference for me as a club. I am very charmed by their ideas, also in today’s team. They have always been an example for me. . ” Gasperini saw Ajax win 0-13 against VVV-Venlo on Saturday. “That proves that Ajax has a healthy team, although I had already seen that against Liverpool. As I have said before, Ajax has the opportunity to experiment in the Eredivisie. The Champions League is a different story. It will be difficult. for both teams, but I have high hopes that we can make it difficult for them. “