They have arrived in London with the same unshakeable belief that has already seen them triumph at Real Madrid and then Juventus in recent weeks.
Ajax boss Erik ten Hag has taken the scalps of two of the biggest clubs in the Champions League 's last two rounds — and his side are ready to do it again this week in a semi-final first leg against Tottenham .
The secret behind this team’s remarkable success is deep-rooted within the Dutch giants’ DNA as they have returned to the values of their famous sides of the past.
Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen, who graduated through Ajax’s famous academy and joins Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen and Davinson Sanchez as old boys now on the books of Tuesday night's hosts, gave an insight into how that confidence is instilled in their players from a young age.
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The Belgium international said: “That’s what they do. Always, when you’re six or seven years old, you start and you’re in the best team in the league. Always.
“You have to dominate away from home. A draw is never enough. A win is never enough. You always have to win in a certain way. That’s what you’re seeing right now.
“Ajax is playing at an unbelievable level. You don’t expect teams outside the big countries to do this. They have shown the way to do it.”
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The Amsterdam club were in trouble, failing to even get past the 2015-16 Europa League's group stage as they finished third behind Fenerbahce of Turkey and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Norwegians Molde. But it is noticeable they have since embraced stars of the past with Edwin van der Sar and Marc Overmars in senior roles.
Vertonghen’s old club have also bought well – and developed even better.
Frenkie de Jong is going to Barcelona, Matthijs de Ligt is highly coveted and Dusan Tadic has been a remarkable success story since joining from Southampton, while Premier League clubs are trying to pick off left-back Nicolas Tagliafico.
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It has been a steady revival highlighted by the big results in Europe this season, yet Vertonghen believes it is the return to traditional values that is underpinning this season’s results.
He joined Ajax’s academy at the age of 16 and never looked back, revealing: “I had doubts because I don’t like moving. I remember my old coach told me, ‘Jan, just go. If it doesn’t work out, you can always come back here.’ I always remember these words.
“Ajax is the best academy in the world. They just prepare everyone for the highest level. Then the kids that come on — because they almost are kids when they’re 18, 19 and making their debuts at 17 sometimes — they are ready, hungry... and fearless.”
