Daily Mail

GET IT RIGHT AND AJAX CAN BE UPSET

- by MARTIN KEOWN

AJAX’S right-hand side could be key for Tottenham. Hakim Ziyech will be on the wing but tends to drift into the centre, and even towards the left side. His touch map in Ajax’s return leg against Juventus (right) shows this. That is where the pace of Son Heung-min can hurt Ajax. He will look to get in behind before the likes of Matthijs de Ligt or Frenkie de Jong can cover for Ziyech.

THIS will be a big test for Ajax psychologi­cally. We’re used to seeing this young side head into the second leg of the Champions League away from home and go all-out attack. That’s what they did against Real Madrid. It was the same when De Ligt (right) stunned Juventus in the quarter-finals. Tonight, as they defend a lead against Tottenham on home turf, it will be a different dynamic. I wonder what effect that will have on their psyche and the way they play. Ajax’s attacking style is behind their success, but will they play that way tonight? Say Spurs score early, how will they react? Remember, this is a very inexperien­ced group, so it will be a challenge for them.

IF I had to buy a season ticket anywhere to watch a team, it would be at Ajax. Yet even they must know this could be the last time they all play together. The young players will know they are being watched by Europe’s biggest clubs. The staff, from Edwin van der Sar to Marc Overmars (right) and the manager Erik ten Hag, should be getting headhunted, too! They will want to do something special while they are all together.

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