AMSTERDAM (AFP) - Mauricio Pochettino describes being in the last four of the Champions League as "a bonus", but Tottenham Hotspur are still hopeful of going all the way to the final as Son Heung-min returns for Wednesday's second leg against Ajax.
Spurs come to Amsterdam needing a special performance if they are to reach the final of this competition for the first time in their history after a Donny van de Beek away goal condemned them to a 1-0 defeat in London last week.
However, Pochettino's team have already made history for the club by getting this far - they last reached the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1962 before being beaten by Eusebio's Benfica.
Now they are dreaming of a first European final since Keith Burkinshaw's team beat Anderlecht on penalties to lift the UEFA Cup in 1984, before any of those set to feature on Wednesday were born.
"We are living a dream. Five years ago when we arrived it was to reduce the gap to the top four, and then to have the possibility to play in the Champions League," Pochettino said at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Tuesday (May 7).
"I think nobody would believe we would be playing in the Champions League three seasons in a row and competing at this stage."
STUMBLING
However, his side are stumbling badly towards the finish line with a depleted squad, set to finish in the top four in the Premier League mainly thanks to the failings of the teams below them.
Harry Kane is out, and Tottenham have been beaten five times in their last six games in all, nine times in their last 10 matches away from home.
The exception in that run came on their last trip to the continent, however, against Borussia Dortmund in the last 16, and now they arrive in Amsterdam with Son available after sitting out the first leg due to suspension.
Jan Vertonghen, who began his professional career in Amsterdam before joining Tottenham in 2012, is in line to return too after coming off with a head knock in the first leg.
"You wouldn't believe at the start of the season that Tottenham would be in the last week of the season with the possibility of being in the final of the Champions League and to be in the top four," Pochettino insisted. "Both are real, but this is not the moment to talk."
Spurs' status as one of the Premier League's top six clubs gives them a considerable financial advantage over Ajax, but they cannot match their opponents - four times European champions - when it comes to history.
The club of Cruyff and so many other great names are in sight of a first Champions League final since 1996 and remain in with a chance of a treble, something they last did in 1972 when the man after whom their stadium is now named was starring on the pitch.
TREBLE DREAM
Erik ten Hag's team secured the first leg at the weekend when they beat Willem II 4-0 in the Dutch Cup final, and they are top of the league in the Netherlands with two matches left.
They are aiming to carry on an incredible European run that began in the second qualifying round against Sturm Graz on July 25.
"You don't expect at the beginning of the season to be in this position. I am very proud and happy to be here during this special period," said Daley Blind, almost echoing Pochettino's own remarks.
Blind, who returned to the club from Manchester United just before the campaign began, admitted that celebrations after the Cup final were "a bit timid" due to the proximity to this match.
Ajax are now hoping they don't live to regret not scoring more than once in London.
"Our defensive organisation was excellent," pointed out Ten Hag. "In the final third we didn't play all that well but the players' mindset was to defend our 1-0 lead."
If they can finish the job on Wednesday, they will be the ones to advance to the final in Madrid on June 1.
PARIS: Gianluigi Buffon said on Wednesday (Jun 5) that he will return to Italy after agreeing to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the month, with the World Cup winner looking for "new
World Cup winner Buffon to leave Paris Saint-Germain
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/06/05/world-cup-winner-buffon-to-leave-paris-saint-germain/
World Cup winner Buffon to leave Paris Saint-Germain AFP June 5, 2019 AFP No Comments Paris (AFP) - Gianluigi Buffon will leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer after it was agreed to not renew the former Italy captain's contract, the French champions announced on Wednesday.
World Cup winner Buffon to leave PSG | Sport24
Premier League: how England's clubs swept to European football dominance The Conversation via Yahoo News UK · 4 days ago. After a series of games packed full of drama and commercial opportunities that would make a Beverley
Aston Villa in Premier League heaven with play-off Wembley
Football: Ambitious Hougang United show title promise, but face tough start in Tampines Rovers. Hougang United at a training session ahead of their season opener against Tampines Rovers.
Ambitious Hougang show title promise - theworldnews.net
Australian PM heads to church, football after 'miracle' election win . Willian gem sinks Newcastle as Chelsea cement fourth place. by Agencies , (Last Updated January 13, 2019)
Willian gem sinks Newcastle as Chelsea cement fourth place
Nathan Ake strikes late to help Bournemouth sink nine-man Tottenham. Premier League. May 5, 2019 8:04am MORE FOOTBALL NEWS.
Ake strikes late to sink nine-man Spurs
Manchester United announced on Friday that midfielder Marouane Fellaini has left the club to join China's Shandong Luneng on a permanent transfer. The Belgium international, 31, arrived at Old Trafford from Everton in August 2013 and went on to make 177 appearances throughout five-and-a-half seasons at United, scoring 22 goals.
Marouane Fellaini: Manchester United midfielder joins
Mar 08, 2019 · Tottenham's first competitive match at their new 62,000-capacity stadium will be against either Brighton or Crystal Palace in the first week of April. The eagerly anticipated news came as the
Tottenham's new stadium: First game confirmed as Spurs vs
Football: Five games that tipped the scales in Ole Gunnar
The official site of the San Antonio Spurs. Includes news, scores, schedules, statistics, photos and video.
San Antonio Spurs
Manchester, United Kingdom: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said he was not disappointed by his players' effort despite suffering a surprise 3-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday. Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring for the home side at the Etihad but Palace hit back with goals from
Guardiola Stays Cool Despite Shock Man City Defeat
Lure of Italy strong, says Chelsea's homesick Sarri Sarri, who unusually for a top football coach came to the sport after a successful career as a banker, has enjoyed a fine end to a
Homesick Sarri hints at Italy return, but Juventus still
Guardiola to make late decision on Silva for Palace trip (Reuters) - Manchester City linchpin Bernardo Silva faces a late fitness test before Sunday's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, his
MADRID: Zinedine Zidane's second spell as coach of Real Madrid got underway on Wednesday as the Frenchman took his first session at the club's training ground in Valdebebas. Zidane, who was unveiled as Santiago Solari's replacement on Monday, was all smiles as he began by addressing the whole squad, before putting them through a series of
Zinedine Zidane leads Real Madrid training for the first time
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch live soccer stream android
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch coppa america live streaming usa
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch soccer live streaming xbox
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming bola
watch premier league live streaming quality
free watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
watch live soccer streaming on android
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
soccer tv live net stream
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch coppa america live streaming india vs england
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming live
watch soccer game live espn
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch soccer online free streaming live reddit
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming online free
watch coppa america live streaming nz
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch live premier league football streaming online for free iraqgoals
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch champions league live streaming cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch champions league live streaming video
watch premier league live streaming online
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch usa soccer live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch soccer am online live streaming
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch champions league live stream uk
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch premier league live streaming live
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
#golazo #valcea #hotcoffee #streamingbolaid #leomessi #433skills #salah #myfootballuniverse #footballmeme #MyDubai #copaamerica #24x7 #liverpool #cristianoronaldo #petercrouch #rugby #fcbarcelona #ignoranza #realmadrid #comics #footballmemes #footballschedule #football #winner #mane #sunderlandafc #linkstreaming #championship #livesports #barcelona #Bar #arsenalnews #freekickerz #mancityvsliverpool #zidane #bayern #comico #bayervshoffenheim #JUVENTUS #league2 #Sunday #afcnews #insegreto #lionelmessi #frasirap #frasitrap #firmino #ucl #vandijk #manchestercity #livestreams #gunners #americanfootball #MSport #ronaldo #lovefootball #seriea #boxing #chocolatecoffee #footballdubai #soccer #acmilan #panini #juventus #transfernews #liverpoolcity #klopp #bestshishacafedubai
No comments:
Post a Comment