liverpool were among the favourites to win the competition while ajax were virtually unknown outside of the netherlands. liverpool manager bill shankly had made a scouting trip to watch ajax before the match and witnessing them lose to lowly opposition returned confident liverpool would progress. a few of liverpool's players, including striker roger hunt, were part of england's victorious world cup campaign in 1966. ajax were coming out of a poor period, after they had finished in 13th place in the 1964–65 eredivisie, while the netherlands national team had yet to make an impression on the international stage. the board of ajax decided to hire rinus michels. he changed the team's formation to a 4–2–4, with an emphasis on passing and possession of the ball. the team showed improvement, winning the eredivisie in his first season in charge.