Mauricio Pochettino’s first taste of a Champions League semi-final ended in defeat as Tottenham slumped to a first-leg home loss to Ajax on Tuesday.
Donny van de Beek’s first-half goal gave the Dutch side the lead and they could have killed Spurs’ hopes in this tie when a classic counter-attack found David Neres in the box, only for the Brazilian’s scuffed effort to hit the post.
Pochettino has it all to do as he attempts to mastermind a second-leg comeback in Amsterdam next week. Here’s a look at how he fared on Tuesday.
KEY STATS
Goals – 0
Shots – 12
Shots on target – 1
Possession – 51%
Passing accuracy – 72%
Dribbles – 13
30-SECOND VERDICT
With the absences of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Pochettino lined his side up in a 3-5-2, with Fernando Llorente and Lucas Moura the strike partnership.
The formation had to be shuffled in the first half, however, as nasty collision between defenders Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen saw the latter come off for midfielder Moussa Sissoko.
Overall Tottenham produced a display high on effort but low on quality. They created several half-chances but one shot on target from 12 total shots says it all.
TACTICAL TALKING POINT
Three at the back doesn’t work for Pochettino
Tottenham’s three-at-the-back formation failed Pochettino. Spurs should have been trying to knock the Dutch side off their game and see if this young Ajax team showed any signs of nerve on the big stage. Instead, the formation allowed Ajax to start on the front foot and get into their passing rhythm quickly.
Vertonghen’s injury was a nasty one but it almost did Pochettino a favour. He was forced into switching to a back four and Tottenham looked much better afterwards.
Pochettino to BT Sport on team selection: "I can accept it was a mistake maybe. I'm not happy, you can't play like this.
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) April 30, 2019
"I don't think it's acceptable how we conceded the goal.
"But the most important thing was that the second half we kept in it for the second leg."#TOTAJA pic.twitter.com/S8ozQIdGI9
VERDICT
Tottenham can blame the injuries – Kane and Son have scored 44 goals between them this season and Harry Winks is the man who makes Spurs tick – but Pochettino bears the blame for this loss.
It is his first Champions League semi-final and perhaps the occasion forced him into playing conservatively as much as the injuries did.
Key players like Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen having off-colour performances didn’t help, but the Spurs manager will look back at this as an opportunity lost.
RATING – 5/10
