FORMER Blackburn Rovers boss Henning Berg is relishing the prospect of leading Legia Warsaw into a Europa League tie against Ajax early in 2015.

Berg has enjoyed success in Poland since taking charge of Legia in January.

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Sacked by Rovers after only 57 days at the helm in 2012, the Norwegian quickly guided Legia to the Polish Ekstraklasa league title last season.

Then came the controversy of their Champions League qualifying tie against Celtic, when they won 6-1 on aggregate only to be kicked out of the competition for fielding the ineligible Bartosz Bereszynski for just four minutes at the end of the second leg at Parkhead.

But Legia have recovered impressively from that setback.

They lead the Polish league again this season from Slask Wroclaw and comfortably defeated Aktobe, of Kazakhstan, in the Europa League play-off round.

Despite only being third seeds in their Europa League group, they cruised to top spot with 15 points from a possible 18 – easing past Trabzonspor, Hull City’s conquerors Lokeren and Ukrainians Metalist Kharkiv.

Their reward was a last 32 clash in February against Champions League drop-outs Ajax.

“It’s a tough opponent,” Berg admitted.

“It’s a club with a rich history of European football and one of the best in Europe.

“It has an excellent football academy, one of the best in the world.

“Ajax are a club that we want to be. Every year winning the league, playing in the Champions League. This club, we try to be.

“Ajax are a better team than Trabzonspor and Celtic - winning the league every year, playing in the Champions League or Europa League.

“Trabzonspor do not do it every year, and Celtic do not play in such a strong league.

“The Dutch have more experience, better players and a fantastic stadium for 50,000 people.”

Berg has enjoyed a happier time as manager of Legia Warsaw than he did playing against them during his career.

The defender played in both matches for Blackburn Rovers against Legia in the 1995/96 Champions League.

Rovers lost 1-0 away and drew 0-0 at home as they finished bottom of the group.