Tottenham v Ajax: Talking points as coveted Hakim Ziyech is one to watch

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  • Ajax star Hakim Ziyech

    It’s the Champions League semi-final clash no one expected, but everyone is excited about as Tottenham host Ajax on Tuesday night.

    Hot talents from both sides will sashay down the dazzling Tottenham Hotspur Stadium runway with the pageantry of the tie a befitting reward for these two poised outfits.

    Spurs, though, enter Tuesday having suffered their first defeat at the new venue on Saturday when West Ham won 1-0 in a fixture which laid bare the side’s gruelling fixture schedule and lengthy injury list.

    In contrast, the Dutch giants were afforded the weekend off thanks to a fixture break in the Eredivisie and so naturally energy levels frame the first element of this tie’s discussion.

    ENERGY IS KEY

    Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino

    Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino

    There’s no need to delve too deeply into the tactics board of either team to figure out their route to Madrid.

    Throughout their respective 2018/19 European campaigns, both Ajax and Spurs have forged success thanks to an energetic trait.

    It’s a hallmark which is applied in different ways, though. Erik ten Hag employs a classic Dutch counter-press which sees his youthful charges blitz in numbers high up the pitch, making it incredibly uncomfortable for the deep ball-carriers.

    It’s designed to force awkward and imprecise passes, be it long or short. For the man in possession, think trying to avoid a swarm of stinging bees with honey on your feet.

    The system requires overwhelmingly-calculated pressure, which of course necessitates deep energy stores. Good thing Ajax have not played since April 23 then. No such luxury has been afforded to Mauricio Pochettino.

    His philosophy is a little different, the idea is to chaperone the ball into certain areas of the pitch and then methodically press.

    However, Son Heung-Min (suspension) and Harry Kane (injury) both miss this contest meaning the Spurs boss is lacking the Kryptonite to weaken Ajax – speed.

    The other issue, is that Spurs build from the back and when their defenders are hurried – think Liverpool and Inter this season – mistakes appear. Going more direct would be an option but missing both Kane and Son is a blow for this tactic.

    ZIYECH THE DANGERMAN

    Hakim Ziyech

    Hakim Ziyech

    What makes Ajax so intoxicating – this applies for fans and elite clubs looking to spend in the summer – is their youthful exuberance.

    Matthijs de Ligt (19), Noussair Mazraoui (21), Frenkie de Jong (21), Donny van de Beek (22) plus David Neres (22) have all demonstrated their absorbing ability this season and are quite rightly being linked with the biggest clubs in world football.

    In De Jong’s case, he’s already agreed to join one in the form of Barcelona.

    Yet, it is one star, who by comparison is practically ancient, warranting more attention. Hakim Ziyech is 26 years old and quite how he’s avoided the glare of elite sides so far is baffling.

    Roma were rumouredly interested last summer before signing his then younger, cheaper, team-mate Justin Kluivert and before them it was the likes of Everton and Marseille. Ziyech can do better.

    The Moroccan has contributed to 28 goals in the Dutch top flight this season (16 goals and 12 assists), surpassing the 24 of 2017/18 (nine goals, 15 assists) and the 18 of his debut campaign in Amsterdam. And the numbers correlate with visible refinement of his talent.

    Granted, the forward is a high-risk, high-reward player but he has developed a tremendous work rate.

    He’s phenomenal in the transition and his progression past markers and into Spurs territory will be crucial for Ajax.

    Defenders will need to watch him carefully, both Manchester clubs and Bayern Munich scouts will likely do the same.

    AJAX OLD BOYS

    Christian Eriksen

    Christian Eriksen

    The running theme for Tuesday is youth, yet there’s some narrative spare for the old boys.

    Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez will face their former side while former Premier League players Dusan Tadic and Daley Blind return to England as well.

    For Eriksen, it’s an interesting occasion given all the ambiguity surrounding his future as he heads into the final year of his contract.

    Real Madrid and Bayern are reportedly interested and so past, present and future all entwine for the Dane. Progression or an exit, could dictate where he plays next season.

    Tadic and Blind didn’t exactly enjoy prime years in England at Southampton and Manchester United respectively but both have been instrumental with Ajax.

    Indeed, Tuesday is a meeting of both young and old.

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