LONDON (REUTERS) - Sympathy was in short supply from Ajax Amsterdam manager Erik Ten Hag for injury-hit Tottenham Hotspur ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg clash on Tuesday (April 30).
Hosts Tottenham are without a string of key players, including strikers Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, for the game in north London and were also involved in a derby against West Ham United on Saturday while Ajax rested.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has said Ajax have an unfair advantage because the whole of the Dutch league programme was postponed to help Ten Hag's side prepare.
The straight-talking Dutchman was unimpressed, however, playing down suggestions his side were favourites.
"We get 10 million (euros) for playing in (Dutch first division) Eredivisire and they get many more millions for being in the Premier League. Is that not unfair on us?" the 49-year-old coach told reporters.
"There are always differing circumstances. Everybody has different circumstances. You just have to deal with them. That's what we do."
Midfielder Donny van der Beek, one of a crop of homegrown youngsters who have propelled four-times winners Ajax to their first Champions League semi-final since 1997, also made the point that their journey began last summer.
Â
Â
Ajax were actually playing in a second qualifying round tie against Austrians Sturm Graz in July, then beat Standard Liege to reach the playoffs where they overcame Dynamo Kiev.
That put them in a group containing Bayern Munich, but they emerged undefeated before beating Real Madrid in the last 16 and Juventus in the quarter-finals.
Now they are in sight of the final as well as being neck-and -neck with PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch title race.
"It's all going quite fast," Van der Beek said, before a training session in Tottenham's new stadium which was open for the public to attend for the full duration.
"Spurs are a great team with great players and we will have to be at the same level or better than we were against Real and Juventus in the last two rounds."
Ajax might never have a better chance to reclaim the trophy before the so-called European heavyweights close in to pick off their best talent - as has happened in the case of midfielder Frenkie de Jong who will join Barcelona this summer.
But while it is young Dutch talent that has spearheaded Ajax's march, Ten Hag said it was a couple of former Premier League players who have provided the winning mentality.
Serbian Dusan Tadic joined from Southampton while Daley Blind has thrived since returning to the Netherlands after a spell with Manchester United.
"We had a good young team but a lack of experience," Ten Hag said. "It was a deliberate policy to sign players from the Premier League, with the knowledge and experience they bring."
Ajax are looking for their first win over Tottenham, having lost both legs of their European Cup Winners' Cup tie in 1981.
Real Madrid have been aided by two penalties in their 2-1 Spanish La Liga win at Levante, which left them nine points behind leaders Barcelona. Bale penalty gives below-par Real Liga win Home
Gareth Bale penalty gives below-par Real Madrid win at Levante
Raheem Sterling honoured with award for fighting racism Manchester City's England forward Raheem Sterling has been awarded The Integrity and Impact Award at this year's BT Sport Industry Awards for speaking out on a range of social issues, including racism.
England's Sterling honoured with award for fighting racism
Football: New favourites Liverpool face two stiff tests of
Female patients with localized hair loss on the top of scalp could select a fall or a demiwig to camouflage crown and anterior scalp loss. (informal, US) Blame or punishment for a failure or misdeed.
Country Side: WEARY FEET…..HAPPY SOUL - Dream Cicles
Rafael Ramazotti de Quadros (born 8 September 1988), commonly referred to as Ramazotti for his Italian heritage, is a Brazilian association footballer who plays as a striker for Mexican club FC Juárez.
CONFIRMED - Rafael Ramazotti joins Hougang United in Singapore
Clock ticking on PA city manager search. 1 / 1. Back to Gallery Port Arthur has fewer than 30 days for a city manager candidate the City Council can agree on to emerge. Mayor Derrick Freeman said
The clock is ticking | Plant City Observer
Southampton stun fading Tottenham, Newcastle edge five-goal Everton thriller Southampton staged a superb fightback to boost their bid for Premier League survival with a shock 2-1 win that left
Southampton stun fading Spurs, Newcastle edge five-goal
starrsportsgh.com/2019/03/southampton-stun-fading-spurs-newcastle-edge-five-goal-everton-thriller/
Brighton also boosted their survival hopes thanks to Anthony Knockaert's brilliant strike to win 2-1 at Crystal Palace, while Newcastle battled back from 2-0 down to beat Everton 3-2. Despite their poor domestic form of late, Spurs were boosted by victory at Borussia Dortmund in midweek to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Southampton stun fading Spurs, Newcastle edge Everton in five
Harry Kane wants to end career as NFL kicker. England captain Harry Kane has his heart set on ending his playing career in the United States kicking field goals for a team in the National
England captain Harry Kane eyes future as American football
Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Cardiff City - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - March 2, 2019 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Morgan Gibbs-White in action with Cardiff
Wolves deepen Cardiff's relegation plight with 2-0 win
Harry Kane STARTS Champions League final for Tottenham
Injuries open the way for Lukaku and Sanchez to shine for Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku to step up to help the club in its injury crisis.
Injuries open way for Sanchez and Lukaku to shine for United
Champions League final may mess up Nations League plans, says
0 comments:
Post a Comment