Ajax boss John Heitinga will put his own “special relationship” with Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu to one side when their teams meet in the Champions League at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on Wednesday night.
Former Romania defender Chivu was Ajax captain under Ronald Koeman in a squad which also included the likes of Wesley Sneijder, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Jari Litmanen and Steven Pienaar – reaching the Champions League quarter-finals in 2003.
Heitinga, 41, returned to boyhood club Ajax in the summer, having been assistant to Arne Slot as Liverpool won the Premier League title last season, while Chivu took over at another of his old teams in June following the departure of Simone Inzaghi.
Former Netherlands international Heitinga, though, maintains once the whistle blows, there will be no room for sentimentality as Ajax look to make their mark back in Europe’s elite club competition.
“Cris was the captain (at Ajax), and I got injured quite seriously,” Heitinga told a press conference. “Cris was the one who always paid me attention and chatted with me.
“I had a special relationship with Cris, and so I am happy to be able to give him another hug.”
Heitinga hopes his players will rise to the challenges ahead – which will also see league stage fixtures against Marseille, Chelsea, Galatasaray, Benfica, Qarabag, Villarreal and Olympiacos as well as last season’s runners-up.
That @ChampionsLeague feeling… ♥️ pic.twitter.com/F3PrSll0Ef
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) September 16, 2025
“The moment you get to play in the Champions League, you notice that everyone is happy to be playing on the highest stage again,” the Ajax boss said.
“We are playing against a tough opponent. Of all the sides we will face, this is one we would have preferred a bit later.
“We will have to be at our best, so will need all our players and the fans to do that.”
Ajax will be without midfielder Steven Berghuis through injury.
The night before the Champions League 🖤💙#ForzaInter #UCL #AjaxInter | @qatarairways
— Inter ⭐⭐ (@Inter_en) September 16, 2025
Inter have just one Serie A win so far this season – and were edged out 4-3 by Juventus on Saturday through a stoppage-time goal from Vasilije Adzic.
Speaking after the last-gasp defeat at the Allianz Stadium, Chivu said: “We will focus on what we did well, even if the result doesn’t reflect it.
“We need to carry on, keep working, keep calm and clear-headed to get results because this team is working hard and doing well.”
