Erik ten Hag wants Ajax to 'eat' Jan Vertonghen and Benfica | OneFootball

Erik ten Hag claimed there will be no room for sentiment when Ajax meet old boy Jan Vertonghen’s Benfica in the Champions League round of 16.

Tuesday’s revised draw saw the Dutch and Portuguese sides paired together, after Ajax had originally been drawn against Inter Milan before Uefa decided to go again after errors in the first attempt.

Belgium international Vertonghen spent six years on the books of the Amsterdam outfit, winning two Eredivisie titles and two KNVB Cups before joining Tottenham in 2012.

“He is an Ajax player, but he will want to perform,” manager ten Hag said of the former crowd favourite at the Johan Cruyff Arena (via De Telegraaf).

“He’s made friends here, including Daley Blind. But once on the field, it’s eat or be eaten.”

And ten Hag felt confident it would be his side who will be doing the feasting come the new year.

“As a rule, Portuguese football does not suit Dutch teams, but we have proven the opposite,” he said.

“First against Benfica (in the 2018/19 group stages) and this season against Sporting.”

It will be Ajax’s first time back in the knockout stages of the competition since reaching the semi-finals in 2019.