Oezil outlines Ajax ambition

Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Oezil believes his side has to have the quality to overcome Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Jose Mourinho’s team have coasted through the group stage of this year’s competition, and have already qualified for the knockout stages with five wins from five.

Eredivisie outfit Ajax, meanwhile, will finish second in Group D unless they lose heavily to their La Liga opponents and Lyon comprehensively defeat Dinamo Zagreb.

“It’s difficult to say if we’ll find it hard against Ajax on Wednesday night,” Oezil said on Monday of the encounter at the Amsterdam Arena.

“They are certainly a stronger side than last season and I’m sure there may be a few difficulties. But we want to win all of our games. It will be tough in front of their home fans, but we go there to win.”

Germany international Oezil, 23, scored in Real’s last Champions League match, against Dinamo in Madrid.

The former Werder Bremen midfielder said he is working hard to improve both his finishing and his team-work around goal.

“My main aim is always to help my team-mates by creating opportunities and openings for them, so when I manage to do that I’m always happier. But most important is always the three points,” he said.

“It’s no good having talent as a team if you aren’t willing to work hard as well. I try to work my hardest to constantly improve myself by doing strength and stamina exercises, as well as my finishing so I’m ice cold in front of goal.”