Van der Vaart: Every team with Ronaldo will be UCL favourite

November saw Rafael Van der Vaart finally hang up his boots as injuries continued to make his life difficult. Ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League meeting with Ajax next month, Van der Vaart spoke with MARCA about favourites of Champions League.

At Madrid you played with Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and more, what do you remember about those days?

"I was with the best in the world - Sergio Ramos, Guti, Raul, Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema - it was something special. Playing with Cristiano, for example, was impressive. Right now everyone knows how important he was, scoring almost 60 goals a season."

Are Juventus favourites for the Champions League?

"Having Cristiano is like having insurance and every team with him will be the favourite. He makes his teammates better. You give him the ball and know he can score, he is a guarantee of success."

There were a lot of Dutch in Madrid when you signed .

"In the first year there were six of us. It was somewhat worse in the sense that we were together and only spoke Dutch, the next season there were fewer and I already improved my Spanish because I had to interact with people from other countries."

Back to the game, Wesley Sneijder told MARCA that Ajax are more dangerous than we in Spain think, do you agree?

"It's hard to predict. In the Netherlands, people think Ajax will win for sure, but I want to remind you that Real Madrid in the Champions League are Real Madrid. It's a tough game for Ajax, they have a chance, but they need to be at their best."

Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong are linked with Barcelona and PSG, do you think they will end up leaving?

"I want them to stay i Amsterdam, but it's normal they receive offers from the best because they are very good. They are impressive talents, they're among the best in the world and will have great careers. Although, they are still very young and must go step by step. De Jong reminds me of Guti, he has a lot of quality."

How much is left of the Cruyff philosophy at Ajax?

"They have the same idea as Barcelona, they want to have the ball and move forward. They play against Madrid and will be like a small team without fear."

Do you think they can lose because they lack experience?

"It's an advantage for Madrid, as they have a lot of experience. They are used to playing finals, it's true that Ajax have matured since the Europa League final loss against Manchester United."

You worked with Jose Mourinho at Madrid, do you think it would be good for him to return to the capital?

"I like him a lot because of how he is, he's very direct. In Holland we like direct people. He's able to tell you that 'you don't play' and I would like to see him return to Madrid. Why not? He's 'the Special One' and he is a winner. I don't only like him as a person but as a coach, he has won a lot."

He was very honest with you...

"Yes, he told me 'Rafa, you have to go because we have Kaka and others, the best thing for you is to leave so you can play more', which is why I went to Tottenham."

Santiago Solari's side are struggling, what do you think the solution is?

"It's rare that they play so badly at home like against Real Sociedad. I don't think it's a matter of attitude. They have lost Cristiano and Zinedine Zidane, they will surely finish well and win more trophies."

Is it possible to win a fourth consecutive Champions League?

"It is. If anyone can do it it's Madrid and they are never to be written off in Europe."?

Lastly, do you dare to give a prediction?

"I'm bad at this, but I'll play along and say in Holland it will be 2-2."