Well rested Ajax will have the edge
180 minutes away from a first ever appearance in a Champions League final, Spurs are choosing the worst possible moment to run out of gas, a factor I’m expecting to play a big part in their first leg with Ajax.
Spurs stretched
Although the money men of Tottenham probably didn’t expect the club to make a foray into the latter stages of Europe’s elite competition, and, without intending to sound smart after the event, the decision not to strengthen the Tottenham squad at any point during the last three transfer windows is appearing more and more naive with every game Spurs line up for.
At this stage of the season it's all about momentum
The lack of the depth in the squad has been apparent all season with Pochettino carefully managing his player’s workload by rotating when possible. He followed this approach by choosing to rest Jan Vertonghen at the weekend who he later admitted to be suffering from ‘big fatigue’. Truth is however he probably needed to do the same with all eleven players.
Spurs were running on close to empty in the London derby against West Ham and it showed in the performance and eventual defeat. The energy and intensity we’ve come to expect of this Spurs team was lacking. Instead, they were slow, sluggish and low on creativity and though they beat Brighton, the same can be said of that performance too.
Refreshed and ready
In stark contrast, while Spurs were toiling, the Ajax players spent the weekend with their feet up. The Dutch FA, seeking to give Ajax the best possible chance of reaching a first Champions League final in almost 25 years, chose to cancel the entire Eredivisie weekend schedule and instead, extend the season by three days.
Subsequently, Erik ten Hag’s team will turn up at the New White Hart Lane stadium, refreshed having had seven days to prepare for the biggest match of their careers. Claims of the ‘unfair advantage’ (as Poch has claimed) having a direct impact on proceedings is up for debate; at this stage of the season it’s all about momentum of course.
But given the condition of the Spurs players, it has the potential to play a part in the tie, overall, swinging the way of Ajax, a view the bookies are certainly on board with.
Tottenham vs. Ajax betting tip
Spurs have proved so many wrong even getting to this stage, including myself. But without Son (suspended) and potentially Sissoko (injured) too, it’s difficult to see the hosts gaining the advantage they need, especially against a youthful Ajax afforded some weekend R & R and already with impressive wins in Madrid and Turin behind them.
These factors have edged me towards tipping Ajax to win, a bet you can get behind at odds of 39/20 with 888sport.
