Ajax Amsterdam vs Celta Vigo - Ajax on an upward trend - boss Peter Bosz

Posted Thursday, November 03, 2016 by PA

Ajax will hope to secure their progress to the knockout stages of the Europa League with victory over Celta Vigo in Amsterdam on Thursday.

Three points for the Dutch giants, who were held to a 2-2 draw in Spain two weeks ago, would be enough to book their place in the last 32.

It would be a relief for Ajax to get the job done early after last season, when they failed to progress from their group for the first time.

Peter Bosz had a rocky start to life as Ajax coach but is pleased with the direction his team is now heading in.

They only won two of their first seven matches of the season and were knocked out in Champions League qualifying by Rostov, but have since won nine games and drawn two.

Bosz told a press conference: "At the beginning of the competition the results were not good, also not with the European elimination against Rostov.

"But our football is gradually improving and therefore the results. The results we have nothing to complain about lately. There is an upward trend."

Bosz is wary of Celta, who defeated Barcelona 4-3 in LaLiga last month, but is hoping to exploit weaknesses in defence that saw them held to a draw with Las Palmas at the weekend after leading 3-0.

He said: "Against Barcelona they did very well going quickly to 3-0. The same thing happened against Las Palmas. This shows the strength of Celta. On the other hand, in both matches, they also got three goals against."

Bosz, meanwhile, addressed the month-long suspension given to winger Anwar El Ghazi, formerly linked with both Liverpool and AC Milan.

The coach said: "I understand that players are disappointed when they do not play. They have to deal with it in a certain way and El Ghazi has done it in the wrong way. I think he has been punished for it appropriately. The focus is entirely on Celta."

Celta, who are also unbeaten in Group G, will be without winger Fabian Orellana, who sustained an ankle injury against Las Palmas.