Calvin Bassey Champions League dream bittersweet

The Nigerian international took it all in as the anthem played in the Johan Cruyff Arena

but can’t talk to old Rangers mates after Ajax’s triumph

Calvin Bassey has revealed it was always his dream to hear the famous Champions League anthem and make his debut in the world’s elite club competition – and a new video shows just how much it meant to him, Lindsay Herron writes for Scottish Daily Express.

Bassey, of course, lined up against Rangers last week having moved to Ajax in the summer for a club record fee of over £ 20 million and he admits it was a bitter-sweet moment as his new club thumped his old one 4-0 to get off to a brilliant start in the tournament but leave his ex-boss Gio van Bronckhorst will lots of work to do.

UEFA have released a special clip of Bassey’s big moment on their Twitter feed which brilliantly highlights all of the emotions the Nigerian defender was going through as he prepared to make his bow in the Champions League at the Johan Cruyff Arena and now he is preparing to face Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night.

Bassey clinched his big move on the back of big performances for Rangers in the remarkable Europa League run that led them all to the final at the Ramon Sanchex Pizjuan Stadium in Seville.

Speaking to Ajax’s club channel, he said: “It’s been one of my dreams all of my life to participate in the Champions League and to be able to do that was unreal.

“Obviously, it was bittersweet because it was against my old team but on a personal note, it was an amazing achievement for me and my family.

“Last season, we [Rangers] spoke about the Champions League and how good we had the Europa run, and Champions League was the next step.

“So it was nice to see both of us, even though I moved on, we were both still in the Champions League and got to that step.

The former Ibrox defender also hails the influence of Rangers’ ‘top manager’

Bassey has backed Gio van Bronckhorst after he and his Ajax teammates slaughtered Rangers in a 4-0 mauling at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Bassey left Rangers in a record £20million-plus deal and he admits it was difficult to talk to his former teammates after a comfortable Champions League win for his new employers.

He said: “It was a hard one- we spoke. For me it wasn’t about going out and proving a point – it was just about giving 100 per cent. It was just a coincidence we were in the same group. We gave our best and we got the win.

“I didn’t think I could just message them just like that tonight. I’ll give them a day. It just depends on how they are. I haven’t seen them for a while. Obviously, I’m buzzing on one side but (on the other) I can’t explain it, it’s a weird feeling.

“When I’m not playing against the (Rangers) boys I wish them the best and I’m always rooting for them to win. But being on the pitch against them, I just had to switch that focus because now I’m here. I’ve got to give 100 per cent and I’m just pleased to get the win.

“I think Gio is very smart he’s a top manager. There’s no doubt he helped me spread my wings and let me go and play. He’s been a very big part of my career so far and I was happy to work with him.”

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