Ajax Amsterdam won the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at Tottenham Hotspur 1-0. After the match, players from both teams talked about not going to the maximum. Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino, on the other hand, admitted a tactical mistake.
SOCCERSCORE has summarised the voices and reactions to the semi-final first leg between Tottenham and Ajax.
Donny van de Beek (winner scorer Ajax Amsterdam) about …
… the game: “The first 30 minutes we played very well. Then Tottenham made some tactical changes and we had problems. The 1:0 is okay, now we have to finish it next week.”
… the break in the Ajax game: “We got into the game very well, but didn’t play what we could afterwards. We need a good plan for next week.”
… the second leg next week: “We have to stay calm. I don’t know what they’re up to next week. We can play better than we can today.”
Erik ten Hag (Coach Ajax Amsterdam)…
… about the game: “It was definitely a top performance. We fought like lions. We played good football and clearly dominated the first phase. In the course of the game we forgot something about playing football, but that also has to do with the opponent. We were a bit restless on the ball and Pochettino changed the system. We didn’t do that well.”
… Donny van de Beek, match winner: “He was fantastic and incredibly important in the final phase of the defensive. It is important when pressing and winning the second balls. We’ve come halfway there now.”
Mauricio Pochettino (coach Tottenham Hotspur) …
… at the first half: “We didn’t find our way into the game well. Ajax came with much more energy and it was hard for us.”
… on the further course of the game: “In the second half we pressed and tried to play out our chances. After 30 minutes we were better in the game. Moussa Sissoko brought in a lot of energy. It was balanced in the second half. We’re still alive, it’s only 0-1. We have to believe we can win there.”
… his tactical alignment with a chain of five: “After the game I have to admit that the formation was a mistake. But there weren’t that many options either. I’m not happy with it, but you don’t know how it would have turned out if we started differently. It wasn’t because of the formation that we conceded the goal. Our approach to the game was not good. I’m the coach and I’m responsible for that.”
… on Jan Vertonghen’s injury: “We won’t be able to assess that until the next few days. We’ll see.”
Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur) …
… on the dominance of Ajax in the first half: “Today we were below average and far away from our best performance. In the first 20 minutes we were spectators. We have a lot to change next week.”
… about the game: “Ajax is a good team, but we made them look better today than they actually are. It was our fault. We were much better in the second half.”
… Tottenham’s long list of injured players: “We can’t keep talking about our injured players. That’s of no interest in a semi-final. We have to get up now. We’re lucky they only hit the post. Hopefully we can still shoot it in Amsterdam.”
