Tottenham Hotspur fans will certainly never forget the drama and intensity of the Champions League semi-final second leg against Ajax.
Spurs found themselves 3-0 down on aggregate by half time in Amsterdam and had an uphill task of making it to the final in Madrid.
Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to bring on Fernando Llorente allowed Lucas Moura more freedom to get behind the Dutch defence and he produced a stunning second-half hat-trick to produce a memorable comeback.
With Harry Kane out injured, many had expected Moura to retain his place in the starting eleven to face Liverpool in the final following his heroics.
Harry Winks has now revealed that Mauricio Pochettino decided to keep the team selection away from the players until the day of the match, which included telling Moura that he had to make to with a place on the bench after deciding to start with Kane.
The Brazilian showed that he is the model professional with his reaction to the disappointing news by refusing to sulk and instead tried to help his fellow players.
Winks told TalkSPORT: “The build-up to the Champions League final, the manager wanted to keep the team close to his chest. He didn’t want to give anything away and it was always everyone work as hard as you can and we’ll find out the team on the day of the game,”
MORE SPURS STORIES
“We’re fortunate to have a side where everyone wants to be part of the team and for the team to do well. There’s no egos or anything like that so the manager named the team on the day of the game.
“Lucas wasn’t in the team, but his character and the way he is around the dressing room, he was so positive and influential. He didn’t sulk or anything like that. He helped the team and you notice that. Everybody helped the team on the day.”
Winks added: “It’s difficult news to take. Any player would find that difficult to talk but Lucas, the way he is, he’s a fantastic person and he took it so well. He was really influential and positive in the build-up to the game, not any sulking at all.”
Keep up to date with all the latest Tottenham news and opinion by following SpursWeb’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
