As Chelsea gear up to host Ajax in the latest round of Champions League action, they will be thinking about a long-standing record there to be broken this season.
The league phase of Europe’s elite competition is getting into full swing.
Chelsea have one win over Benfica and a loss to Bayern, placing them at 19th in the standings heading into an exciting clash with Dutch giants Ajax.
Of course, the main focus for Enzo Maresca’s side will be getting a result at Stamford Bridge, but they may have one eye on a 30-year Champions League record held by the opposition.
AJAX AMSTERDAM CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SIEGER 1995
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images
Chelsea positioned to best Ajax’s incredible Champions League feat
There has been fair criticism over Chelsea’s apparent unwillingness to bring experience into the side, instead focusing on young players in all recruitment activities.
But back in 1995, Ajax showed that great things can be achieved with youth.
The Dutch outfit fielded the youngest-ever Champions League-winning side, with an average starting XI age of 24 and 364 days.
That lineup included future greats like Edwin Van der Sar (24), Clarence Seedorf (19), Jari Litmanen (24) and Marc Overmars (22), who would go on to have fantastic careers in Europe. 18-year-old Patrick Kluivert would come on late to grab the winner in the final.
Chelsea’s latest XI for the Benfica win had an average age of just 24 years. If they make it as far as the final, they will be well-positioned to surpass that feat three decades later. Admittedly, a big ‘If’.
Ajax’s pitiful recent record against English teams
While that record is ripe for the taking, Chelsea have a long way to go to be primed for history in May.
The first item of business is to get a win on Wednesday night, and Ajax’s record against English teams should give the Blues confidence to get the job done.
They have failed to win in their previous 11 European clashes with English sides, stretching back to 2019.
Maresca’s side are yet to prove themselves on the brightest European stage, but they are world champions and battered last year’s winners 3-0 over the summer.
The league phase is all Chelsea should be focusing on for now, but there’s no reason why they can’t keep that history-making motivation in the back of their minds.