Tottenham vs Ajax preview: Moussa Sissoko in contention following groin injury
Tottenham were handed a big boost ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg against Ajax with the return to training of Moussa Sissoko.
The France midfielder has missed the last three games due to a groin problem, but trained at Hotspur Way on Monday.
Defender Jan Vertonghen was rested during
Tottenham’s 1-0 loss to West Ham on Saturday but he was also in action.
Striker Harry Kane, meanwhile, cut a lonely figure in the club’s gym as he did rehabilitation work on his injured ankle.
Boss Mauricio Pochettino has previously said the England captain could be fit if Spurs make the Champions League final.
Tottenham later announced that Sissoko and Vertonghen will be assessed ahead of Tuesday’s clash against the Dutch side.
Kane (ankle), Harry Winks (groin), Erik Lamela and Serge Aurier (both hamstring) are injured while Son Heung-min is suspended and Vincent Janssen is ineligible.
But Pochettino added: „We arrived where we are now because we are a team. And we are going to be a team, and it doesn’t matter who’s going to score.
„It’s always an issue when you don’t have all the players fit, but even with some players out, we’ve always competed. That’s why we’re not worried.
„We have a spirit in the team that we can achieve anything and all is possible. That is our strength.“
„It is our first time in the Champions League semi-final, that is why you must show respect for the competition and the opponent because it is going to be tough.“
There will have been a quartet of players in the Spurs dressing room who will have given an extra smile when they confirmed their last-four date with Ajax.
Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen, Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld all used to play for the Amsterdam side, with the first three joining Spurs from there while the latter came via Atletico Madrid.
Ajax have had the luxury of a full week off to prepare for this match after the Dutch Eredivisie cancelled last weekend’s domestic round of fixtures in order to give their team maximum chance of doing well in Europe.
Charlie’s prediction
Tottenham are hitting this awkward spell at the moment. Are they the favourites? They have never been here before. Ajax, as players, have never been there before but their side have on some occasions.
This young side do not have any fear, they have five or six super young players who know how to get the job done.
Dusan Tadic didn’t have the consistency at Southampton but he and Daley Blind have been great. Tottenham, on their day, with the pace of Lucas Moura, alongside the skill of Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli, are guaranteed to score.
I feel Ajax will play and open up the game, Spurs could afford to let Manchester City come onto them, but they will see more possession here. I see Tottenham securing the first-leg advantage ahead of next week’s return in Amsterdam.
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