Poch overcome by the scale of Spurs’ latest great escape
FOR a moment Mauricio Pochettino lost control. Lost himself in complete and utter ecstasy. Who can blame him? What a comeback, what an achievement, what a night.
Storming onto the pitch like a man possessed as Lucas Moura struck Tottenham’s euphoric winner in injury time, Pochettino was like a whirlwind.
With his face contorted, the Argentinian couldn’t be contained. Slumping to his knees in the centre circle, the scale of what he’d just witnessed eventually overcame him.
His team — once again — had found an answer when all appeared to be lost. His team — once again — proved that under Pochettino’s guidance they always have a puncher’s chance.
If anyone still needed convincing about Pochettino’s managerial prowess, they won’t now.
The tearful Tottenham manager succumbed to his emotions. Don’t worry, Mauricio we were all with you. Twenty minutes after the final whistle, Pochettino reappared to receive the adulation of his adoring fans, who had been kept in the stadium.
‘Mauricio Pochettino, he’s magic you know,’ they sang. They’re not wrong. His comments this week in which he had appeared to suggest he could leave Tottenham if they won the Champions League raised a few eyebrows.
But how can he walk away from this? How can he walk away from a set of players who are clearly prepared to run through brick walls for him?
In true Pochettino style he tried to thrust his backroom team into the limelight as he took the acclaim from the jubilant away supporters.
His modesty is endearing. But he’s not fooling anyone. This was Pochettino’s night, he deserves all the praise he gets.
Pochettino has held up his end of the bargain, now it’s time for the powers that be at Tottenham to hold up theirs.
The Argentine has worked wonders this season by reaching the Champions League final, all without having signed a single player.
Imagine what could be achieved if he was able to add significantly to his squad this summer?
Tottenham’s hierarchy should be giving their brilliant manager whatever he’s asking for this summer. Because if they don’t, another club will.
As for Ajax, it was a case of all good things coming to an end. When referee Felix Brych blew for half time you would have forgiven Tottenham’s players for never wanting ti tot set tfootf ti ni Amsterdam Atd again. By the end, they didn’t want to leave.
For 45 minutes, Tottenham were outshone, outclassed and outplayed by this dazzlingly brilliant young Ajax team that has taken European football by storm.
But by the end the home team were flat out. And the cold reality ffor AjaxAj manager ErikEiktten HHag iis that this captivating young side is likely to be broken up this summer.
Frenkie de Jong is joining Barcelona, while Matthijs de Ligt, Donny van de Beek and Hakim Ziyech are all on the radar of Europe’s top clubs.
That is the sort of scenario TTottenhamtth must avoid. It would be a travesty for this team to disband now.
Toby Alderweireld and Christian Eriksen are known to be considering their long-term futures.
If last night’s euphoria hasn’t convinced them that their future lies in north London then nothing will.
Alderweireld’s £26million release clause will have Europe’s top clubs licking their lips.
When is a centre back of the Belgian’s class available for relative peanuts? Never would be the answer to that question.
Manchester United are in glaring need of a central defender — surely someone of Alderweireld’s stature
should be at the top of their shopping list.
The future of Eriksen is just as uncertain. Entering the final 12 months of his deal, Tottenham are near the point of no return with regards to the Dane.
Losing a player who is valued inexcess of £100m isn’t an option for Daniel Levy.
The Dane’s refusal to commit to a new deal has caused consternation behind the scenes — but with Real Madrid circling, who can blame Eriksen for playing a waiting game?
Keeping those two stars should be a summer priority for Tottenham.
But what may happen in the future was irrelevant last night. Here in Holland, Pochettino’s men lived in the moment to etch their names into Tottenham Hotspur folklore. When all looked lost, they were brave and fearless. Their reward — an all English Champions League final against Liverpool in Madrid on June 1.
With Pochettino at the wheel, who would bet against Spurs completing the job?