Rodolfo: My respect for Ajax
Rodolfo Borrell is under no illusions as to the size of the task his U19s side face when Liverpool and Ajax meet in the NextGen Series semi-final at Anfield on Wednesday, March 14.
The Dutch outfit, who have a great reputation for producing talented players, beat Barcelona 3-0 in Spain to reach the last four.
Borrell knows Liverpool will have to be at their best on the night to make the final.
"I know a lot about Ajax as they have a magnificent academy which they've had for many years and they play and train the same way with the same idea," Borrell told Liverpoolfc.tv.
"They have players who are technically very good with quick speed of thought and it's going to be a really good experience to play against them.
"It's a great chance for the lads to play at Anfield once again and it will be a massive occasion for Ajax to play at our ground.
"Whatever happens we are in the semi-finals of a very tough competition and we will do all that we can to try and beat them on the night.
"Ajax beat Barcelona, one of the favourites for this competition, 3-0, so that shows you their quality. It's going to be a great experience and I welcome this opportunity for the lads."
Despite losing 1-0 in the quarter-finals to Tottenham at White Hart Lane, Liverpool were reinstated to the competition after the Londoners withdrawal when Spurs made the NextGen Series aware of an inadvertent breach of a competition regulation.
While happy to be back in with a chance of winning the NextGen Series, Borrell has mixed emotions.
He added: "The truth is I would have preferred not to go through in this way and would have preferred to have beaten Spurs on the night.
"It's true to say we deserved to win at Tottenham and even their coaches said that to me at the end of the game.
"But this has opened a window for us and a new opportunity to play more games in this competition, and we are looking forward to playing at Anfield against a magnificent side like Ajax.
"It will be an exciting game and we want to do well in front of our own supporters."
Skipper Conor Coady added: "It will be a great night at Anfield and all of the boys are looking forward to it.
"It has certainly been contrasting emotions for us. We played so well at Tottenham and we don't like losing any time we play for Liverpool.
"We were unlucky not to win on the night at White Hart Lane because we played some fantastic football, and the dressing room wasn't a nice place to be after the game.
"Once we found out we were through we were all ecstatic and we can't wait for this game.
"The NextGen Series is a great tournament to play in and it has been a fantastic experience for all of us getting the chance to play against some of the best young teams in Europe."