Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has laughed off comments from Ajax counterpart Co Adriaanse on the eve of tomorrow night's crunch Champions League showdown in Amsterdam.
The Dutchman has attempted to spice up the already heated third qualifying round by making disparaging claims about the physical nature of the Celtic side and John Hartson in particular.
But Adriaanse also insisted what his team lack in brawn they can make up in the quality of their football and leave Celtic's historic bid to make the group stages by the way side.
He said: "Celtic are taller, stronger and more experienced than us, but I feel my players are tactically better. I think quality can count for us."
O'Neill, however, has told Adriaanse that he is fooling nobody and joked: "Yes, I saw real crunchers in Bobby Petta and Lubo Moravcik. That was the first image that I had of them."
Adriaanse's words have raised the temperature of tomorrow's battle even more - but O'Neill insists his counterpart is attempting to play mind games.
The Irishman played against a top-class Ajax outfit on the way to winning the European Cup in 1980. And he pointed out that their biggest stars of the time could mix it when needed - and the current side are no different.
O'Neill said: "I have never known an Ajax side not to look after themselves.
"I played against Ajax in the semi-final of the European Cup and I can tell you that they looked after themselves all right.
"I also played against the Dutch national side and even though they were a great side all of them could look after themselves. I'm sure this Ajax side are the same.
"If he said these things, and I know sometimes liberties are taken, then I think it's a myth because Dutch sides can look after themselves and be aggressive."