Champions League: Van Gaal blasts Ajax players after 3-2 defeat to Tottenham

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Champions League: Van Gaal blasts Ajax players after 3-2 defeat to Tottenham

 

Former Manchester United manager, Louis van Gaal, has criticised Ajax players following their Champions League semi-final second leg 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night.

Lucas Moura netted thrice in the second half of Spurs’ semi-final second leg in Amsterdam to help the Premier League side overturn a 3-0 deficit to reach the final on away goals.

Moura struck twice in three minutes shortly before the hour mark.

The Brazilian then squeezed home the crucial goal in the 96th minute to spark incredible scenes.

But Van Gaal, a former Ajax coach, blamed Erik Ten Hag’s men for making wrong choices in possession of the ball during the match, describing their defeat as “completely unnecessary”.

“It was admirable that Spurs had the courage to never give up and try and do the business, but it was totally unnecessary of Ajax to let it all slip,” Van Gaal was quoted by Mirror UK as saying after the match.

“This defeat was completely unnecessary. At half time there was nothing wrong with a 2-0 lead.

“In the second half, Tottenham took more and more risk and more and more attackers entered the field. Ajax made the wrong choices in possession of the ball in that phase,” he said.

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Champions League: Lucas Moura reveals his motivation in Tottenham 3-2 win at Amsterdam

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Champions League: Lucas Moura reveals his motivation in Tottenham 3-2 win at Amsterdam

 

Tottenham star, Lucas Moura, has revealed that the club’s boss, Mauricio Pochettino gave an inspirational speech at half-time to help inspire them to victory over Ajax.

Tottenham defeated Ajax 3-2 after a superb hat-trick from Moura.

Tottenham were beaten 1-0 from the first leg and Ajax’s captain Matthijs de Ligt scored after just five minutes in Amsterdam with Hakim Ziyech doubling the Dutch club’s lead to 3-0 on aggregate in the first half.

However, Moura said that a rousing speech from Pochettino at break had an impact on him and his team-mates.

They went on to win the clash on away goals as the tie finished 3-3 on aggregate.

“In the changing room, the gaffer said we need to score one goal,” Moura said to Spurs TV.

“If we score one goal we are in the game and when I scored the first, it gave us a lot of motivation to keep working and to keep fighting.

“After the second one, that’s football, everything is possible and we needed to believe.

“I always say that we need to believe and I believed.

“If we play like this, everything is possible.”

Tottenham will face Liverpool on June 1, with the Reds likely to be tipped as favourites.

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Champions League: Ajax coach, Erik Ten Hag reacts to 3-2 loss to Tottenham

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Champions League:  Ajax coach, Erik Ten Hag reacts to 3-2 loss to Tottenham

 

Ajax manager, Erik Ten Hag has reacted to his side’s Champions League semi-final second leg 3-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night.

Ten Hag’s men appeared on course to reach the Champions League final in Madrid as they scored twice in the first half in Amsterdam to lead 3-0 on aggregate.

But Tottenham fired back through Lucas Moura who pulled a second-half hat-trick.

Ten Hag refused to blame his players after the defeat to Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

He said that he was proud of his players, adding that his team deserved a very big compliment.

“I told the players in the break that it wasn’t over yet, you could tell by the attitude of the Tottenham players. They still believed in it,’ Ten Hag was quoted by Express UK as saying.

“When that ball hits the post from Hakim Ziyech (in the second half), it’s over and out for Spurs. But I can’t blame anyone.

“We have had an incredible Champions League season and have grown a lot as a team. It is difficult to process.

“Football can be very beautiful and it can be very cruel, we have had to experience that today.

“Overall we had a fantastic Champions League campaign, we were one second away from the final, our team deserves a very big compliment, I am very proud of my players.”

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Champions League: Ajax releases ‘super’ squad against Tottenham Hotspur [Full list]

Champions League: Ajax releases ‘super’ squad against Tottenham Hotspur [Full list]

Ajax have released a strong squad to face Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham in tonight’s Champions League quarter-final first leg tie at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

According to Football London, Ajax coach, Erik ten Hag has released a list of 22 players.

Ajax head to the game after defeating Cristiano Ronaldo-led Juventus in the Champions League quarter-final.

Below is Ajax’s Champions League squad against Tottenham:

André Onana, Lamprou, Varela, Kristensen, Veltman, Matthijs de Lies, Sinkgraven, Mazraoui, Magallan, Blind, Tagliafico, Brook, Tadic, Labyad, Schöne, De Jong, Ziyech, White, Neres, Huntelaar, Dolberg, Ekkelkamp.

The kick-off time for the match is 8pm Nigeria time.

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Champions League: Ajax send message to Tottenham ahead of semi-final clash

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Champions League: Ajax send message to Tottenham ahead of semi-final clash

Ajax have sent a powerful message to Tottenham ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday.

The English side will go head-to-head with the Dutch champions later today.

Tottenham will be hoping to take a lead to Amsterdam for next Wednesday’s game at the Johan Cruijff Arena.

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First choice striker, Harry Kane, Erik Lamela, Harry Winks and Serge Aurier remain unavailable due to their respective injuries.

Son Heung-min will also be absent after his booking in the previous round at Man City saw him pick up a one-game ban.

However, Moussa Sissoko and Jan Vertonghen could be back from injury ahead of the game in N17 after returning to training at Hotspur Way on Monday morning.

Vertonghen is one of four ex-Ajax players in the squad with Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen and Davinson Sanchez also previously spending time with the Dutch giants.

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Ajax sent a message to their former stars on Twitter having posted images of them during their time at the club.

“We love you. But we will fight you,” they tweeted.

Ajax beat European Champions, Real Madrid and Italian Champions, Juventus to reach this stage.

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