Vertonghen returns from concussion in four-man Spurs defence to face Ajax
Jan Vertonghen has returned to the Tottenham Hotspur starting XI for their crunch Champions League semi-final second leg against Ajax.
The Belgian suffered a concussion in the first-leg defeat and missed Tottenham’s 1-0 Premier League loss to Bournemouth on Saturday.
Who starts in Ajax vs Tottenham? Five key things to know…
- Tottenham travel to Amsterdam on Wednesday for their Champions League semi-final second leg.
- The London side are 1-0 down on aggregate but have been buoyed by the return of Son Heung-min, who missed the first leg through suspension.
- Son starts up front for Tottenham, with Fernando Llorente dropping down to the bench.
- There is also a start for Jan Vertonghen who suffered a concussion in the first leg.
- Ajax, meanwhile, have made just one change from the first leg with Noussair Mazraoui coming in for Joel Veltman.
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But Vertonghen has now been deemed well enough to start in a four-man defence, with Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose the chosen full-backs.
There is also a Champions League return for Son Heung-min, who missed the first leg through suspension and sat out for most of the weekend game after being sent off.
Spurs XI vs. Ajax: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Sissoko; Lucas, Dele, Eriksen; Son.#UCL #AJATOT
— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) May 8, 2019
But, now fresh, Son leads the line for Spurs with Lucas Moura joining Dele Alli playing just behind him.
Prior to the teams being announced there had been rumours that Harry Kane would be fit to play some part in the game, but the English forward was nowhere to be seen among the matchday squad.
Meanwhile Ajax have made one change from the team which won 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last week, with Noussair Mazraoui coming in at right-back to replace Joel Veltman.
That means there are starts once again for Matthijs De Ligt and Frenkie De Jong, who will be hoping to fire their side into a Champions League final for the first time since 1995/96.
Ajax XI vs. Spurs: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Blind, Tagliafico; Schöne, De Jong; Ziyech, Van de Beek, Neres; Tadić.#UCL #AJATOT
— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) May 8, 2019
Ajax take a 1-0 lead into the second leg after Donny van de Beek scored the only goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Tuesday. The winner will go on to face Liverpool in the final on June 1 in Madrid after the Reds overturned a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Barcelona with a 4-0 win at Anfield.
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Tottenham fans optimistic over Champions League chances
Though not many fans would have been dismayed by their narrow 1-0 defeat last week, Liverpool’s dramatic comeback on Tuesday night appears to have added fuel to Tottenham’s hopes.
Come on boys. Biggest game of your lives. All we ask for is 110% tonight & nothing less. We can do this. #COYS
— Noz Ahmed (@NozAhmed) May 8, 2019
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