Our opponents in the Champions League Semi-final are not to be taken lightly.
The Dutch giants qualified for this seasons Champions League having come second in the Eredivisie in 2017/18. PSV were the Champions.
This put them into the 2nd Qualification round, where they beat Sturm Graz of Austria, 5-1 over 2 legs.
They then went on to beat Standard Liege of Belgium, 2-2 and 0-3 before qualifying for the group stage with victory over Dinamo Kiev 3-1 & 0-0.
Their group contained AEK Athens, Benfica and Bayern Munich and they qualified from this group in 2nd place with a record of 3 wins and 3 draws. The draws included 1-1 and 3-3 vs Bayern Munich.
In the knock out round, they faced the holders, Real Madrid, losing the first leg at home, 2-1, before stunning them at the Bernabeu 4-1.
The QF saw them play Juventus where they drew the first leg 1-1 before winning 2-1 at Juve's Allianz Arena.
Ajax currently atop the Eredivisie on goal difference over PSV, having won their last 5 games. They have scored 107 goals having played 31 - W25 D2 L4
Ajax are also in their domestic Cup Final, a game played on the weekend between the 1st & 2nd legs of the SF.
Let's be honest, it's the draw you'd prefer from the remaining teams but will not be easy at all. It is comforting to know that we have already faced PSV who are their equals in their league and although we dropped silly pts away and made it hard for ourselves at home, we were clearly the superior team.
Ajax have relished taking on the European giants this season and their away form in these matches has seen them through. Perhaps they were a bit fortunate to come up vs Bayern & Real when both were suffering poor form but they put away a very experienced and in-form Juve side.
We are not quite the European giants that these others are. We have a few Ajax old boys and we will not be underestimating the challenge which may be these others might have been guilty of.
Cannot wait. A massive chance for us.
Ajax
posted on 23/4/19
comment by morespurs (U15748)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Ace (U18814)
posted 22 minutes ago
I said on another thread that with a fully fit squad I’d make us slight favourites for this tie, like 55/45.
Given that Kane and Son (first leg) aren’t available plus the issues we have in central midfield, you would have to say we’re going into this as slight underdogs.
I think having the home tie first is an advantage. Keep it tight, don’t give them the away goal just like the home tie vs City. Son will be back for the away leg so if we can go there with the game in the balance and play on the counter we have a real chance.
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You’re underestimating the contributions from Llorente in getting the goals and with Lamela most likely to feature on the night, I can see him scoring too
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posted on 23/4/19
We're probably not going to have a better opportunity to reach a CL final.
Don't take it for granted but I am more and more confident after getting past City.
posted on 23/4/19
quality outfit but what an AMAZING chance to get to a CL final !!
posted on 23/4/19
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 1 hour, 7 minutes ago
comment by MKspur (U9129)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by MKspur (U9129)
posted 33 seconds ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by MKspur (U9129)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by MKspur (U9129)
posted 11 minutes ago
Yes but no one is taking them lightly
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Don't believe I said anyone is.
Have suggested that may be Real & Juve did, despite their vast UCL experience it's a trap some can fall into without really realising it. I am sure that if we fail to get through there will be plenty of Spurs fans saying we bottled our best chance ever.
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Regardless of how good Ajax are if we don’t go through then we have bottled our best chance ever this cannot be doubted
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So if we play really well and get eliminated, we will have bottled it?
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Not getting through at this stage then yes
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Surely a defeat does not necessarily = bottling it.
Its a SF vs a team who had knocked out Juve & Real and avoided defeat to Munich.
Sounds like you're the one taking them lightly if any sort of defeat is considered by you as bottling it
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Okay what would you call it as this is without doubt our best ever chance.
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Depends on the manner of the defeat. If we freeze on the big night, if we make stupid errors, blow good chances then yes, we bottled it and you can question our mentality.
If we play brilliantly but are just beaten on the night by the better team then no, its not bottling it. Not every defeat is bottling it
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Bottling doesn’t mean losing A game but consistently losing when you get to a certain point. We have a poor record on winning games to get us to finals.
We won’t take Ajax lightly because we’ve already played PSV twice and only just beat them (home) and they are joint on points with Ajax in the league.
posted on 23/4/19
Seems pretty unfair that Son (or any player) gets booked twice in 10 games (6 groups, 4 ko games) and misses the SF game. 2 bookings in 10 games, it is pretty harsh to be banned for that, especially considering what little you have to do to get booked these days.
posted on 23/4/19
Lamela always seems to take it up a notch in big games. I for one, wouldn’t be against him starting the first leg.
posted on 23/4/19
I doubt Lamela will even be fit to play
posted on 23/4/19
If Lamela plays he'll get booked in the first 5 minutes then do feck all for the rest of the match.
posted on 23/4/19
comment by TobyJanKaneobi (U15068)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
Lamela always seems to take it up a notch in big games. I for one, wouldn’t be against him starting the first leg.
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Lamela, unfortunately, is a complete waste of time, due to his inability to make himself available for any of our games.... he is literally as pointless as having me on the squad list - neither of us with play... and he has a lot higher wage demands.
definitely needs to be moved on in summer
posted on 23/4/19
comment by Tottenham Chronic (U3423)
posted 2 hours, 21 minutes ago
comment by TobyJanKaneobi (U15068)
posted 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
Lamela always seems to take it up a notch in big games. I for one, wouldn’t be against him starting the first leg.
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Lamela, unfortunately, is a complete waste of time, due to his inability to make himself available for any of our games.... he is literally as pointless as having me on the squad list - neither of us with play... and he has a lot higher wage demands.
definitely needs to be moved on in summer
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Agreed. Get him fit between now & the summer then try & get 2/3 of what we paid for him