Tottenham fans spurred to attend Madrid final

PETALING JAYA: After Tottenham Hotspur’s semi-final win in the 2019 UEFA Champions League, Malaysian fans of the English Premier League football club have joined their Liverpool counterparts in their euphoria and eagerness to make it to Madrid for the all-English final of the prestigious competition.

Spurs supporters are over the moon after their team pulled off an astonishing 3-2 victory to beat Ajax Amsterdam in the Dutch city yesterday in their second-leg semi-final clash for a 3-3 aggregate score and won on away goals.

It’s a historic first Champions League final for the club.

The day before, Liverpool booked a berth in the final after notching up an equally stunning 4-0 victory at home over Barcelona in the second-leg semi-final.

Liverpool won 4-3 on aggregate at its home ground of Anfield.

Now, Spurs fans in the country are sharing the excitement of the Liverpool brigade in trying to catch the final live in Madrid on June 1.

Jag Dhaliwall, 48, was in an enviable position as he caught Spurs’ incredible win in Amsterdam.

“Being able to witness the game live was truly a gift from god which I will never forget,” said the Singapore-based co-founder and managing director of the executive search firm Principle Partners.

Jag opined that it was ironic that most Liverpool fans were happier to face Spurs than the intrepid Ajax.

“It will be a battle of Klopp vs Pochettino,” he said, referring to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and his Spurs counterpart Mauricio Pochettino.

“At the end of the day, I hope to have a great time, regardless of who wins,” he added.

Another ardent fan, Azril Zolle, said seeing Spurs make it to its maiden final in the championship was “a big thing”.

“It’s so surreal because I never expected it to happen, honestly,” said the 45-year-old social media expert.

“To think that we lost the first-leg semi against the young Ajax team in London.”

Though he won’t be flying off to Madrid, Azril, who has been to Spurs’ previous home White Hart Lane in London twice, said he planned to visit its new stadium end of this year.

“I want to feel what it’s like to witness the game in the new stadium. I simply love the spirit and passion of the players,” he gushed.