The City chief acknowledged that his side face a tough test against the Dutch champions, but he stressed the fact that the team must remain positive.
“Every game in the Champions League is difficult – it is hard at home, but I think away is more difficult. But, we need to do our best,” Mancini declared.
“We need to think that we can win tomorrow.”
City have gained just a single point so far in Group D - drawing at home to Borussia Dortmund after losing the opening tie against Real Madrid in a nail-biting encounter at the Bernabeu.
A win tomorrow would do much to strengthen the Blues’ position in among the reigning Spanish, German and Dutch champions.
“This group is very difficult, we started this group very well, but we know tomorrow will be a difficult game,” said Mancini.
“Ajax are a really fantastic football side, they have a young team, they play very well. They are one of the best teams in football history.”
Team selection is never easy, but the Italian has a tough decision ahead when he picks his striking partnership for this key clash.
With Edin Dzeko adding two to his already impressive goal tally on Saturday, Mancini must decide if he is to finally get his starting call up.
“It is very difficult when you have four strikers like Mario, Edin, Carlos and Sergio and you have to choose only two to play and leave two on the bench – it is very hard,” he admitted.
“Edin was fantastic on Saturday against West Brom and also every time he has played, he has started very well.”
Ajax too will be out for all they can get, haven been beaten by both Madrid and Dortmund leaving them pointless at the foot of the table.
It’s for this reason and many others that skipper Vincent Kompany believes the Blues must be at their very best.
“We always knew this was going to be a tough group, there’s not going to be any easy games and tomorrow is one of them again. It’s going to be very tight, but it makes it more exciting,” said Kompany.
“Ajax are a club of legends, they’ve always had one of the best youth systems in the world and they stand for a way of playing, they stand for what the game is about – the beauty of football.
“I have a massive amount of respect for Ajax, but obviously tomorrow is going to be a game for us where we need to win as much as they need to win.
“We go into tomorrow’s game with a very positive attitude and with thoughts that we’ve had a good start to the season.
“What counts is the result that comes tomorrow,” he concluded.
“We still think we have a big chance, we still think we are capable of winning every game.”
