Laurent Blanc has revealed his delight after watching Paris Saint-Germain retain top spot in Group F with a 3-1 victory over Ajax.
PSG had already booked their spot in the last 16, but they boosted their chances of edging Barcelona into second place by overcoming a resilient Ajax side in the French capital ahead of their meeting with the Catalan giants on matchday six.
"When the group was drawn, the favourite was Barcelona. We will have our destiny in our own hands but Barcelona will be the favourite as the home side," Blanc told reporters.
"You need to know suffering in a season. We are not always in the best form, just like everyone else. It's good to win when you are suffering.
"We do not have all our resources at this time and the statistics were not in our favour - maybe we will become a counter-attacking team! To take three points from this great Ajax team was very positive."
PSG have not been beaten in any of their five Champions League games this season.