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.
Latest İrfan Can Kahveci news, stats, photos and videos on MSN Sport. msn back to msn home sport football. powered by Microsoft News. web search. Skip to Navigation;
Ikhsan Fandi - Howling Pixel
Santiago Solari said head coaches need to trust in VAR after Real Madrid benefited from a controversial call in Wednesday's 2-1 Champions League win at Ajax. Holders Madrid took control of their
The Straits Times - Breaking News, Lifestyle & Multimedia News
Watford squeeze past QPR into FA Cup last eight. 1 Min Read. Soccer Football - FA Cup Fifth Round - Queens Park Rangers v Watford - Loftus Road, London, Britain - February 15, 2019 Watford's Troy
Watford squeeze past QPR into FA Cup last eight - Football
Professional footballers in England and Wales have boycotted social media on Friday to take a stand against racism. Racism in football: '#Enough' - Premier League players boycott social media in
FIFA backs English players' social media boycott over racism
Holders Real Madrid were sensationally knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday after being thrashed 4-1 at home by an outstanding Ajax Amsterdam who overturned a first-leg deficit to reach
Shellshocked Madrid knocked out of Champions League by
Liverpool back above Man City at the top of the league beating Southampton with a late double strike player in Liverpool history to get to 50 Premier League goal. Friday night football
Southampton vs. Liverpool - Football Match Report - April 5
Spurs are back in Champions League action at Wembley on Wednesday. Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino says he is "a little disappointed" with the Premier League for making his side play on Sunday
Spurs' Pochettino: I made difficult choice to turn down Real
global.espn.com/football/tottenham-hotspur/story/3846455/spurs-pochettino-i-made-difficult-choice-to-turn-down-real-madrid
Pochettino's side defeated Ajax Amsterdam 3-2 (3-3 on aggregate) in dramatic fashion on Wednesday in their Champions League semifinal second leg, advancing to the June 1 final in Madrid against Liverpool, but the Argentine said he had the chance to move to the Spanish capital permanently.
'Pochettino could be a United manager' - Berbatov - goal.com
According to the research of Dr. Anders Ericsson, motivation is the most significant predictor of success. In simple terms, Dr. Ericsson found that experts in many walks of life, whether sport
Delighted Klopp tells players to stay focussed 12/29/2018 Tell your friends. Jurgen Klopp refused to get carried away with the growing expectation that Liverpool can lift the league title for the
Sport24.co.za | Delighted Klopp tells players to stay focused
Any other day, a concert by a multiple Grammy Award-winning artiste like Bruno Mars would have been headline news.. But May 9, 2018 wasn't any other day. It was a historic day for Malaysia, one that many of Mars' fans were part of, rushing to the concert after voting at their various constituencies, and proudly displaying their inked fingers like a badge of honour.
May 11, 2019 - YouTube
Tampines Rovers Football Club, commonly known as Tampines Rovers or simply Rovers, is a professional After many name changes, they finally decided on "Tampines Rovers" as the official club name. Former player Isa Halim was brought in to be the fitness coach, together with goalkeeper coach Team Manager: Leonard Koh. Head Coach: Kadir Yahaya. First Team Coach: Gavin Lee.
Tampines Rovers Fc | World News
watch champions league live streaming live
watch everton vs tottenham live soccer streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live espn
watch coppa america live streaming bola
watch coppa america live streaming twitch
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch premier league live streaming quality
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch soccer live streaming xbox
free watch soccer live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch barclays premier league online live streaming
watch us soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming english
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
watch english premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch premier league darts live stream
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming match
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch premier league live streaming online
watch premier league live streaming zee tv
live tv soccer live stream - live3s.com
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch coppa america live streaming spain
tv soccer live stream sky
watch soccer live stream links
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming free
watch champions league live stream uk
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch premier league live streaming xbox one
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch coppa america live streaming uk
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch afghanistan premier league live stream
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch soccer games live stream free
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming live
watch champions league live streaming mobile
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch soccer aid live stream
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch the premier league live stream
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
#Celtic #americanfootball #girlsniteout #realmadrid #frasitrap #Vip45 #conference #oasisofficial #Liamgallagher #coffeebreak #portsmouthfc #vip #liverpool #goal #acmilan #footballschedule #freekickerz #fut #alissonbecker #433skills #bayernmunich #fcbarcelona #football #golazo #manunited #nikesoccer #firmino #footballfans #pagani #manchestercity #manchesterunited #vandijk #championsleague #liverpoolcity #coys #chocolate #watchlive #comics #coutinho #lfc #elcasico #juventus #kroenkeout #ignoranza #zinedinezidane #transfernews #serieatim #paulmcartney #tokyo #arsenalfantv #cr7 #seriea #nutmeg #manchestercity #soccer #risate #villarealcf #bundesliga #Barca #mensnightout #nationsleague #BMW
0 comments:
Post a Comment