In Focus: Where did it all go wrong for Spurs against Ajax?

Tottenham Hotspur were unable to make the home advantage count against Ajax last night, with the Dutch side edging the game 1-0.

Spurs will now have to go into the away leg of the Champions League final needing a big result, and at least one away goal.

They will likely welcome Son back into the side after his suspension, and hopefully, Sissoko will be available from the start.

But where did it all go wrong for Spurs this week? The simple answer is that the damage was done in the first 20 minutes.

Pochettino went for Llorente and Lucas up front, as well as two wingbacks and a back three. This implied that Spurs would be using their Spanish centre forward’s aerial prowess with chips down the middle and balls in the box.

However, at the start of the game, Spurs were unable to regularly find their lead striker, and the wingbacks barely got out of their own half.

This left Lucas and Llorente isolated and left loads of space in the middle for the Ajax playmakers to create once they beat the pathetic Spurs press.

Before long, Van de Beek was put through on goal after his teammates were given too much time on the ball, and he finished coolly to give Ajax the lead.

Soon after, Poch moved Rose into midfield and put Vertonghen at left back, putting Spurs in a 4-4-2 formation.

It was from here that Spurs began to grow into the game and matched up far better against the young and rampant Ajax.

Hopefully, Pochettino can find the right set up, including Son, to tear Ajax apart in their own back yard next week.

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