Panathinaikos vs Ajax Amsterdam - Peter Bosz focussed on the Europa League

Ajax coach Peter Bosz insists his side will give their all in the Europa League despite the disappointment of missing out on the Champions League.

The four-time European champions were the most high-profile casualty in the Champions League play-offs when they slumped to a 5-2 aggregate defeat by Russian side FC Rostov.

Having been forced to drop into the continent's second-tier competition, the Dutch outfit open their campaign with a trip to Panathinaikos on Thursday.

"Europe is always special, but we would have preferred to play in the Champions League," he said on www.ajaxshowtime.com.

"That's even more special. But the key is, and now we have to perform in the Europa League."

Ajax beat another Greek team, PAOK Salonika in the Champions League qualifiers, but Bosz will not read too much into that result and insists they are not favourites in a group which also includes Standard Liege and Celta Vigo.

"Panathinaikos finished the regular season well above PAOK. PAOK but were better in the play-offs," he added.

"That you come out of pot one says nothing. You see only what the power relationships are when we play against each other."

Bertrand Traore is a doubt for the game having come off injured against Vitesse Arnhem at the weekend.

Midfielder Christian Ledesma is a fitness worry for the Greek side, who won their opening league game of the season at Levadiakos at the weekend.