Champions League: Pochettino unhappy with Ajax getting weekend off
Tottenham Hotspur will be up against Ajax in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League 2018-19 season. Spurs host the Dutch side at home on Tuesday for the first leg. Ajax have been handed the week off by Dutch football authorities, which in turn hasn't gone too well with Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino. Here are the details.
Spurs face West Ham today as Ajax get crucial rest
Spurs host West Ham in a crunch Premier League encounter today at 5:00 PM IST. With the club fighting for a top four finish, Pochettino cannot afford to rest many key players for the UCL tie. So one will see some tired legs when the club faces high-flying Ajax. This will hand an advantage to Dutch side.
I think it's not fair, says Poch
"When you play Saturday and you must play Tuesday, and you compete in a derby game playing for big things, the concentration is massive. You can always have some problems. But it's not a complaint. Only the fact is that I think it's not fair."
'Premier League is completely different to the Dutch league'
There are calls that the Premier League should help teams fighting for glory in the final phases of the Champions League. Poch feels that the EPL is different. "I know the Premier League and the FA tried to help us to prepare the semi-final. But the Premier League is completely different to the Dutch league. Football in Europe is completely different to England."
What can be expected from the semis clash?
Spurs reached the semis after beating Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City in the previous two rounds. Meanwhile, Ajax outclassed Real Madrid and Juventus to reach the last four. It's going to be an entertaining battle with both teams considered to be the underdogs this season. One expects to see high intensity football with plenty of attacking displays on offer.
