Jon Dahl Tomasson hasn't looked back since a harrowing season at Newcastle when he scored only three goals in 23 games.

He rediscovered his scoring touch with Feyenoord, and he scored four goals for Denmark in last year's World Cup before moving to AC Milan and helping them win the Champions League, although he missed the final at Old Traffod against Juventus with a shoulder injury.

This season, Milan's star-studded squad go to Ajax seeking the victory that would virtually assure them a place in the Champions League knockout stages.

With Milan adding new signings Cafu, Kaka, Guisseppe Pancaro and Dida to existing Champions League winners Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini, Clarence Seedorf, Andriy Shevchenko, Rui Costa and Rivaldo, it is hardly surprising that Tomasson feels his lot are still the team to beat in Europe this season.

And should John Terry or Gary Neville come up against him later in the tournament, they won't forget the Dane's winning goal against England at Old Trafford earlier this month.

TheFA.com: Are people looking at the English clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United as major threats in the Champions League?

Jon Dahl Tomasson: The Premiership is a great league with great players. The atmosphere is always superb at English stadiums and sometimes the supporters can be the 12th man. It's possible of course because every Champions League team has quality, but you also need a little luck as well, which we had last year. In my opinion though AC Milan have a better side this season than last season. The squad is stronger, we bought players in the summer and now we have three good players for every position - last year we only had two! We have a lot of players.

Which rivals have particularly impressed you?

Real Madrid are always great and play exciting football. But you have to remember this year is different because you only have one group stage. Once you get to the knockout stage, nobody can afford to have one bad game, you have to be focussed every time you run out. It is a good test of your quality.

Are Chelsea as famous as Manchester United in Italy because of all the money they have been spending?

Of course. They are very well-known now but regarded in a different way to United. Manchester have achieved so much in the last 15 years and have a lot of players who have been with the club for a long time. Chelsea have been buying players for huge money so you can't compare them on one level. But they both have great teams and it will be very difficult against either team.

You were injured just before last season's Champions League final. How are things this season?

I am happy with my form, I scored three goals in my first four league games and then got the winning goal against England of course. But nobody is picked every week at Milan. We have a system where the players change - a bit like Chelsea.

Do you think Italian football suits you more than English football or were you just too young when you had that one season at Newcastle?

I was young but also all the big names got injured. I should have played behind Alan Shearer but he got injured. To be honest, I am a bit tired of answering that question! At the time, I couldn't be as attacking-minded. Now I know I can. You get a lot of experience over the years.

Another AC Milan player Rivaldo has been linked with a move to England...

He is in the Tribune every week (sitting in the stands). But I think he is still a great player and would well in England. He isn't too old or past it in my opinion. For the first couple of months it would be difficult for any new player in England because of the speed of the game, but I think Rivaldo would do a good job.

Last year, he played a couple of times for Milan; this year he hasn't played at all. We just have a lot of quality at the club. He isn't too old at all. The way of playing in Italy might be different to what he was used to in Spain but I think he is a great player and a great person as well. I like him a lot.

What is your position in the Champions League?

We are top but it's a close group; the points go 7-6-5-4. We play Ajax next in Amsterdam - we need four points to definitely make sure. I played in Holland for Feyenoord so it will be good to go back there. We only beat Ajax 1-0 at home so it could be a close match. They are an excellent side and we look on the game as a challenge. We don't mind how we get the four points we need as long as we get them and go through.

At the end of the season, do you think AC Milan will be European champions again?

People expect us to win everything (laughs). We had an excellent team last year, but now we have even more depth. We have more quality than Chelsea, yes. Maybe not more players but more quality. I wouldn't swap our squad for their squad at all.

You missed the final last year so presumably you are desperate for another chance?

I was operated on five days before the Champions League final. I was in the Italian Cup final in Roma, we won 4-1 but I got injured after 70 minutes. I remember the feeling as I went down on my shoulder, it was an instant feeling of 'Oh, no.' I knew what I was going to miss. I still felt involved in winning last year's competition but of course everyone wants to play in the final. Maybe this season.