LONDON (AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE) - Mauricio Pochettino has told Tottenham to shrug off the absence of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min as they prepare to face Ajax in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday (April 30).
Kane headlines a lengthy injury list which also includes Erik Lamela and Harry Winks, while Son is suspended.
But, having upset the odds to end Manchester City's quest for a quadruple of trophies in the quarter-finals, manager Pochettino insisted Spurs' strength as a collective can overcome Ajax's talented group of rising stars.
"To be in a Champions League semi-final is something I dreamed about. You need to settle your dreams, to infinity and beyond," Pochettino said at his pre-match press conference on Monday ahead of Tottenham's first European Cup semi-final since 1962.
"The chance to play a semi-final for Tottenham has not happened often. We are in a circumstance that is not going to change and we must be ready.
"It is impossible to be tired, impossible to not be excited to play. I am sure there is no doubt we will have the energy for 90 minutes."
However, while Pochettino's stretched squad were slipping to a sixth defeat in their last 10 Premier League games to West Ham on Saturday, Ajax have had a full week to rest as the entire Dutch league calendar for the weekend was postponed to allow them extra time to prepare.
Â
Â
Without Kane, who is not expected to return this season unless Spurs make it to the Champions League final on June 1, Tottenham's goals have dried up since a thrilling 4-3 defeat in the second leg of their quarter-final at City was enough to progress on away goals.
Christian Eriksen's late strike to secure a 1-0 victory over Brighton last Tuesday was Spurs' only goal in their past three games.
Son's absence means Pochettino is robbed of another goal threat, with Lucas Moura and Fernando Llorente his only striking options.
However, the Argentinian said Spurs' teamwork can compensate for that lack of firepower.
"I think the point is that we arrive where we are now because we were a team and we are going to be a team," he said.
"I don't care who is going to score. Always it's an issue to not have all the players fit but, in front of any name was the team, the collective."
Pochettino also played down any suggestion that Kane could return in time for the second leg if the tie is still alive heading to the Johan Cruyff Arena next week.
"He's doing well. He's working and starting to run a bit inside. His rehab is so good, but we cannot create any idea that we maybe cannot achieve.
"The most important thing is that he is in a good place and we'll see what happens."
Youngest local SPL Coach, 33, unfazed He earned the necessary certification to lead a professional local club six years ago. But the opportunity never came for Khidhir Khamis, until now.
Latest KHIDHIR KHAMIS | The Straits Times
Unai Emery says he was happy with how Arsenal were implementing his game plan before the red card which saw Ainsley Maitland-Niles dismissed and reduced the Gunners to 10 men. The Spaniard explained that the idea was to control the match with good defensive positioning, but by the time the right back was sent off, Leicester had had 8 attempts
Klopp hails 'best night' of his life after ending final hex Madrid, Spain: Jurgen Klopp revelled in the biggest night of his managerial career on Saturday after winning Liverpool's sixth Champions League title, ending a run of six straight losses in finals.
Klopp hails 'best night' of his life after ending final hex
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 07, 2019, with the headline 'Hazard leads tributes for departing Fabregas'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
Chelsea attacker Hazard pays tribute to departing Fabregas
Sichuan Jiuniu, its latest addition, are based in the western Chinese metropolis of Chengdu, and play their home games at the Chengdu Longquanyi Football Stadium. Chinese football was buoyed by an influx of funds and foreign stars after President Xi Jinping, who visited Manchester City in 2015, outlined ambitions to turn the world's most
Feisty encounter expected between Home United and Young Lions
The FA has condemned the England fans who caused mayhem in Porto as 'an embarrassment to the team' - and says they are not welcome in football… Read More Tags: England fans FA football Nations League Portugal soccer violent
Violent England fans an embarrassment to the team and not
Let us plan your trip to see the New England Patriots, one of the successful teams in NFL history. Foxborough Stadium is on every football fans bucket list to visit and watch at Patriots game. What can be included in your New England Patriots Travel Package? - Lodging in the Boston/Foxborough Area - Reserved game tickets
Tips for visiting fans to Penn State football games
Few of the 24 women's World Cup teams arriving in France for next month's tournament will bear the weight of expectation quite like reigning champions the United States. In March, they sued the U
Women's World Cup: Which teams are the favourites and who
Football: Man United miss out on top-four spot after 1-1 draw
Ligue 1: Thierry Henry starts dream job at Monaco Thierry Henry replaced Portuguese Leonardo Jardim who was sacked less than six months after leading Monaco to second place in the standings following their first league title since 2000.
Thierry Henry: Guardiola sympathetic with suspended Monaco
England's greatest goalkeeper and 1966 World Cup winner Gordon Banks has died at the age of 81 after losing his battle with kidney cancer.
Football: England bids farewell to World Cup-winning 'keeper
0 comments:
Post a Comment