The 52-year-old was released by the Amsterdam club on Monday to allow him to hold talks with Chelsea, where he is expected to be unveiled as assistant first-team coach under Avram Grant.

The move was not unpopular with Ajax fans, who chanted for the departure of Ten Cate during Sunday's 2-2 draw at Sparta Rotterdam following the club's early exit from the UEFA Cup last week.

In an interview with AD Sportwereld, Ten Cate said: "The expectations at Ajax are way too high.

"Ajax are no longer a top team in Europe, but the club doesn't want to know that. The level of ambition is still the same as it was under Louis van Gaal."

Ten Cate also took aim at the recruitment policy at the club.

He said: "I should have raised my voice after Edgar Davids fell away and Wesley Sneijder was sold to Real Madrid.

"The board were of the opinion that (Robert) Schilder and (Jan) Vertonghen were good replacements. I did not agree," added Ten Cate.

Ten Cate had some dismissive words about some of the players he has worked with at Ajax.

Of Kenneth Perez, now at PSV Eindhoven, he said: "I never said that he isn't a good football player, but Perez demands a starting place.

"A starting place is something you earn by training and playing very well. That doesn't change when (Ryan Babel) and Sneijder are sold."

Of Olaf Lindenbergh, now at Sparta Rotterdam, Ten Cate said: "Give me a break. He is a cry baby. One word about him is a word too many.

"Klaas-Jan Huntelaar at first was not convinced about my way of working but he has changed his mind. He can become a very good player."

Ten Cate denied any suggestion that he was not up to the job of head coach.

He said: "People now say that I cannot be a head coach. I don't see that though. The only bad thing about this job is that I need to speak with people like you, journalists.

"It's a great feeling that I no longer need to account for line-ups and things to the outside world."