Chelsea Dominates Ajax 5-1 in Champions League, Earning Praise from Ajax Manager John Heitinga

Ajax manager John Heitinga has praised Chelsea as a formidable team in the UEFA Champions League, highlighting their power, speed, and tactical flexibility, particularly the use of fullbacks in midfield. Following Chelsea's dominant 5-1 victory over Ajax at Stamford Bridge, Heitinga labeled Chelsea a 'team to watch' for the Champions League title and acknowledged their strong squad depth, noting that even key players like Jorrel Hato struggle to secure playing time at Chelsea. Despite Ajax's poor start to the group stage with heavy losses and domestic struggles, Heitinga emphasized that his team does not approach matches with a defeatist mindset and is focused on executing a solid game plan. Heitinga's respect for Chelsea is informed by his own experiences as a player facing the club and his recent coaching roles in English football, underscoring the high level of competition Chelsea presents. Chelsea's young talents, including their youngest-ever Champions League goalscorer Estevao Willian and record-setting Reggie Walsh, have contributed to their strong performances this season under manager Enzo Maresca. The upcoming matches will test Ajax as they seek to rebound while Chelsea aims to build on their Champions League momentum with back-to-back wins.