Gallery: Player Ratings – Ajax 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur

Alderweireld – 7

Image 2 of 12

He was one of many players who had a shaky first half but, as with so many, he became majestic in the second, played further forward to add to the attacking momentum, had one great headed opportunity. When he needed to he got back and was as reassuring as ever.

One of the greatest nights in the history of Tottenham Hotspur and one achieved by these players and this manager. A game which will not be forgotten and one where collectively they dug down deep for something out of a season where they seemingly had nothing left to give – what they found, above all, was heart, heart to match the passion of their wonderful manager.

From the group stages through to the Man City quarter final, Spurs have been ‘out’. At each stage, it was seemingly impossible to progress from where they found themselves. But somehow their finger nails were dug into that massive trophy and they didn’t know how to let go. That’s some unity, character and belief.

Ajax are a wonderful side and would certainly have graced any Champions League Final but, in a way, that was the problem. When you can’t possibly lose, that’s a dangerous place to be. The stadium management encouraged the complacent Bob Marley singalong that ran well into the second half. Every defensive substitution by the manager confirmed it wasn’t just naïve young players who were handing Spurs the initiative. Cup football has always reserved a place for underdog commitment to topple all kinds of ‘superiority’.

It was an uneven Spurs performance and everyone made mistakes but they found, ultimately in that relentless second half, the passion to drive on and the ability to run at defenders or produce a telling pass. It was a super Spurs team performance. Thank the Lord Glenn Hoddle survived the overflow of emotion. Thank God we all did.