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.
Apr 17, 2019 · Edwin van der Sar is the ideal architect for Manchester United's rebuilding project with United facing a huge rebuilding job and one of their most important summers for years,
Solskjaer to begin much-needed rebuilding job at United | FOX
BERLIN: Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen 3-2 with two goals from Robert Lewandowski on Wednesday to advance to the German Cup final for the second straight year and keep the
Bayern reach German Cup final to keep double in sight | The
Moussa Sissoko unaware Raheem Sterling's goal was ruled out in Tottenham's win at Man City side had progressed to the Champions League semi-finals realise Tottenham had reached the
Soccer-Sissoko unaware Tottenham had advanced after Sterling
Qatar punished unwelcoming hosts United Arab Emirates 4-0 in a politically charged clash marred by disgraceful behavior from shoe-throwing fans Tuesday to reach their first Asian Cup final. The Qataris, whose national anthem was drowned by boos before the game, face Japan in Friday's final after
AFC Asian Cup 2019: Qatar reach final after routing UAE 4-0
Salah retains African award to seal great day for Egypt. Mohamed Salah completed a memorable day for Egyptian football by retaining his African Player of the Year award in Senegal Tuesday.
Mohamed Salah Retains African Award To Seal Great Day For Egypt
Football: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gives stars 'licence to
Liverpool's Croatian defender Dejan Lovren (L), Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah (C) and Liverpool's English forward Daniel Sturridge celebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League final football match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on June 1, 2019.
Shape up or ship out: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns his Manchester United squad they must be fit before pre-season or they will not go on tour. The Manchester United squad languish 39 points behind
Shape up or ship out: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns his
Liverpool just proved why the title is Man City's to lose at end and a rampant Liverpool side gunning for the title. been so rudderless but it does look like Jose's words were his
Liverpool defender Joel Matip will be out of action for up to six weeks after suffering a fractured collarbone. Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury Football scandal girl Zahia scores
Football Liverpool title bid hit by Matip injury - Pulse Ghana
World Football. May 4, 2019 / 4:31 PM / 25 days ago Soccer-Atletico slump to biggest defeat of season against ruthless Espanyol (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid fell to their heaviest league
Soccer: Sissoko unaware Tottenham had advanced after Sterling
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has said he considers himself and Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo to be on a different level to the rest of the players in the world. Messi was asked about who he
Top 10 Most Expensive Football Players in the World 2019
0 comments:
Post a Comment