CHANCE TO SHINE WILL SPUR TADIC

AJAX captain Dusan Tadic believes his team would have given Liverpool a better game in last year’s Champions League final than Tottenham managed.

And the former Southampton forward (above) and his team-mates have a chance to show that tonight.

The Dutch club were seconds away from securing their place when Lucas Moura scored (top picture, above) in their semi-final second leg to put Spurs through.

Ajax had been brilliant that season, and it hurt them even more seeing Tottenham, in their first European Cup final never really threaten in a 2-0 defeat.

“It would have been nice to play against them in the final,” said Tadic, when asked if Ajax could have beaten Liverpool. “It’s difficult to play against them but a larger chance than Tottenham for sure.

“I played against Liverpool too often, it was always difficult. They put on a lot of pressure with fast football, they are a big team but it will be a great game to play.”

Ajax coach Erik Ten Hag says he does not know if he is relieved Liverpool colossus Virgil Van Dijk is not playing. “I don’t know,” replied Ten Hag (above) when asked how he felt about the Holland captain being absent.

“At the end of the day it’s about who is still playing. It’s not going to be a different Liverpool, they always play the same. The quality of Man A can switch to Man B, the whole team won’t change because Virgil Van Dijk isn’t present.

“Of course, they are currently the best team in the world.”