Tomorrow evening in Amsterdam, Emma Hayes will begin her final knockout stage in the Champions League as Chelsea Women manager.

Her side reached this stage of the competition as group winners and now face an Ajax side who were runners-up behind PSG on goal difference alone. Hayes has been an interested observer of the rise of the Dutch champions and is relishing a first leg against them inside the impressive Johan Cruyff Arena.

A record crowd for the home club is anticipated and although this competition is undoubtedly a major one and she is yet to win it, it is not being treated as a clear priority by Hayes.

‘Every game means a lot to me,’ she stated shortly after arriving in the Dutch capital.

‘I really don’t apportion any more emotional response to one competition over another. I would like to be part of a team that wins as much as possible so I'm excited to be in this arena. I saw pitch-side the quality out there; I'm looking forward to the atmosphere. I know our players will be really excited about that, and I'm just happy to be at this stage of competition.’

Although this is the first competitive meeting between Chelsea Women and Ajax, we played each other in a pre-season friendly in Portugal two summers ago, recent enough for Hayes to have anticipated Ajax being a position this season to qualify from a Champions League group containing three of last year’s quarter-finalists.

‘We drew with them and the game was very closely contested game, and I remember saying I could see Ajax being the next team coming through in Europe, so it is no surprise to me. They've been developing their own talent, putting the right experience in, and I think they are a club that have got serious ambitions in Europe.

‘Because we've played them before we know how good they are so we certainly won't be going into it with our eyes shut. We have to be wary of their threats going forward and they have a strong look down the middle.

‘But one of the things you get when you're experienced in this competition is that know-how to put as much focus and effort on yourself first. Our players’ experiences of being in this tournament have to count because it's intimidating playing against 35,000 people in a tight arena. This draws on our experiences because it is important for us we come through tomorrow's game in a really strong position.’

Following a hugely impressive home win against domestic title rivals Arsenal on Friday, Hayes has no new injuries in her squad but she cannot welcome any players back from injury either. She anticipates Mayra Ramirez will be able to re-join training on Friday. In the meantime, the existing fit players will need to go again.

‘It helps when you're winning,’ Hayes said. ‘You find a little bit more energy in the legs. There's very little time between games but it's so motivating when you're able to take part in so many competitions.

‘It galvanises us and as a group, we do really well with game accumulations, and we’re showing that again this year.’

• The Stamford Bridge leg of this quarter-final is next week, on Wednesday 27 March, and tickets can be purchased here