(China Daily)11:01, May 02, 2019
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino admitted he was at fault as Ajax closed in on a first Champions League final for 23 years thanks to a 1-0 semifinal first-leg victory at Spurs on Tuesday.
Donny van de Beeks 15th-minute strike was just reward for the Dutch sides first-half dominance as Tottenham badly missed the presence of the injured Harry Kane and suspended Son Heung-min.
However, considering its dominance, Ajax was left feeling frustrated that it hadnt amassed a bigger lead for next Wednesdays second leg in Amsterdam.
In the first 20 minutes we played really good, 22-year-old midfielder van de Beek said, and after that Tottenham chased something.
Spurs improved after the break despite another injury blow as Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen had to be helped down the tunnel after a sickening head knock.
However, the host lacked the inspiration needed to get back on level terms without their two top scorers.
Watching now of course I can accept it was a mistake the shape we used. But there were not too many options, said Pochettino.
I am not happy, but our lack of energy from the beginning made our game difficult. We were a little sloppy.
Despite the tender age of many of its players, Ajax has not been fazed on the road in Europe, shocking Real Madrid and Juventus away to reach the last four. And it started confidently again in north London.
A through-ball by Hakim Ziyech, a silky skilled Moroccan midfielder who has been linked with Tottenham, picked out van de Beek who took his time to leave goalkeeper Hugo Lloris prone before slotting into the bottom corner.
I think it was an amazing evening, an amazing result, said Ajax coach Erik ten Hag.
In the beginning we very strong, we were completely dominating the game and we made a fantastic goal.
Lloris kept his side in the game 10 minutes later from another van de Beek effort as Ajax threatened to run riot.
The way we conceded the goal was so painful, I think we were so poor in this action, said Pochettino.
They showed more energy than us, but I think after 30 minutes we started to equalize the game.
Injuries pile up
On top of Kane and Son, Spurs were shorn of the injured Erik Lamela and Harry Winks and lost another key player when Vertonghen came off worst as he contested a high ball with Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana and teammate Toby Alderweireld.
The Belgian was patched up and briefly returned to the field before being helped down the tunnel. That led to questions as to why the Spurs medical staff had allowed him to continue in the first place.
I wasnt involved, insisted Pochettino. It is the doctors decision.
I think (the health of the player) is so important, the protocol is there and our medical staff follow the protocol.
Despite that latest blow, the host reacted well to end the half on top with Vertonghens replacement, Moussa Sissoko, driving a longrange effort wide.
Pochettinos halftime pep talk had the desired effect as Spurs dug deep into their energy reserves to raise the tempo and intensity of their display after the break.
Yet, the quality needed in the final third to get back on level terms was missing without Kane and Son.
We arrived in the last third but we didnt find a way to create clear chances, continued Pochettino. Always we missed the last pass or shot.
Ajax did not make the most of its chances on the break to kill the tie off, but was unfortunate when David Neres effort back across Lloris left the French stopper helpless only for the ball to rebound back off the post.
We could have kept the ball more and played calmer and that creates opportunities, said ten Hag.
With, for instance, Neres that he didnt score that was such a pity. Nevertheless, winning 1-0 in Tottenham is an amazing result.
We know we can do a lot better next week to finish it off.
Son will be back for the trip to Amsterdam next Wednesday and Spurs will hope the South Korean can repeat his double away to Manchester City in the last eight, but Ajax is in pole position for a final against Barcelona or Liverpool on June 1 in Madrid.