Spurs have hope with Ajax better away than home but Alli needs to turn up now
AJAX always play better away than at home — so there is hope for Spurs. Tottenham will know that Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Juventus all scored in Amsterdam. I said before the Champions League semi-final first leg that if it finished 1-1, Spurs could live with that. They lost 1-0, of course, but that […]
AJAX always play better away than at home — so there is hope for Spurs.
Tottenham will know that Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Juventus all scored in Amsterdam.
I said before the Champions League semi-final first leg that if it finished 1-1, Spurs could live with that.
They lost 1-0, of course, but that doesn’t make a big difference.
They would still need to win away to go through and probably score twice.
DELE TIME
In the first game, with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min missing, Spurs needed far more from Dele Alli.
I really like him but he didn’t show up. His display wasn’t there and it has to be better tonight.
It might be different when Son is able to use his pace to run behind Ajax. That will create more space for Dele to get into the game more.
PRESS TO IMPRESS
For Spurs to have any chance they have to break through the Ajax pressing game.
They could not do it in the first 30 minutes at Wembley — and were lucky they are not out of the tie already.
It was different in the second half. Suddenly, Ajax looked more tired under pressure — Spurs have to make them feel like that again.
Ajax love it when they have the ball in your half. But they don’t like it when you have the ball in their half.
That might mean turning them with long balls but Spurs have to force errors in midfield. They need to disrupt Ajax and their system.
So that means getting close, denying time and space and trying to play in the Ajax half.
HOTCH-POCH
Mauricio Pochettino made a big mistake in the first leg when he played five at the back, with three centre-backs, against no striker.
Before the match I was on TV in Germany and said I didn’t understand boss Poch’s tactics.
Dusan Tadic is not a No 9 and it meant the three defenders had nobody to mark.
Instead, Ajax could dominate the midfield, with five against two or three in there for Tottenham.
To be fair to Pochettino, he did change to a back four, although only after Jan Vertonghen was injured, and he cannot get it wrong this time.
MORE SPURS STORIES
MIND GAMES
If Spurs can score a goal it will come down to mentality. They also have Son, which will mean something different to the first leg.
The trouble for me is that I don’t feel Spurs are really ready for this.
Ajax looked far more fresh, especially early in the first leg. It was only when Moussa Sissoko came on that they were able to change things.
VERDICT
It is possible for Spurs to reach the final — but I’m not sure they are in the shape to do it.
They are not in the best condition or playing at their top level.
PREDICTION: Ajax 2 Tottenham 1
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