{"id":1086550,"date":"2019-04-29T16:18:38","date_gmt":"2019-04-29T15:18:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1086550"},"modified":"2019-04-29T16:19:57","modified_gmt":"2019-04-29T15:19:57","slug":"llorente-warns-tottenham-lose-ajax","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/llorente-warns-tottenham-lose-ajax\/","title":{"rendered":"Spurs striker Fernando Llorente warns: “Play like we did against West Ham and we’ll lose to Ajax”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tottenham Hotspur striker Fernando Llorente has warned his teammates that they will lose to Ajax if they repeat their West Ham United performance.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mauricio Pochettino’s side lost their unbeaten record at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday as West Ham nicked a 1-0 win to dent the north Londoner’s confidence.<\/p>\n

Can Spurs beat Ajax? Five things you need to know…<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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  1. Ajax have defied the odds to reach the Champions League semi-final this season, beating the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus en route.<\/li>\n
  2. Tottenham Hotspur have also surprised after a poor start to the group stage.<\/li>\n
  3. Spurs have beaten the likes of Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City.<\/li>\n
  4. However, they suffered their first defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday in a 1-0 loss to West Ham.<\/li>\n
  5. And Fernando Llorente believes a similar performance will see Spurs beaten by Ajax on Tuesday.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7241178-squawka-talker-awards-player-of-the-year-to-the-premier-league-s-biggest-flop<\/p>\n

    Spurs never really got going and struggled against the mid-table side. And club striker Llorente has stressed that if he and his teammates play like that against Ajax this week, then they have no chance of winning.<\/p>\n

    Mauricio Pochettino’s side face the Amsterdam giants in the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

    Speaking to reporters<\/a>, Llorente said:\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s right, we need everyone to wake up because if we play like this on Tuesday we will lose, easy.<\/p>\n

    \u201cThis kind of game [the semi-final] doesn\u2019t need to be prepared for because the mentality of all the players will be different.<\/p>\n

    \u201cBut I don\u2019t think I can understand why the mentality of the team wasn\u2019t ready to play against West Ham. I don\u2019t know [why] but I told you, if we play like that against Ajax then for sure we will lose.\u201d<\/p>\n

    https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=al00w_wODzg&t=173s<\/p>\n

    Subscribe to Squawka\u2019s Youtube channel here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Llorente to step up?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Alongside a loss of confidence, Spurs also have to contend with the loss of their two best forwards heading into Wednesday.<\/p>\n

    England international Harry Kane has been absent since picking up an injury in Tottenham’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Manchester City.<\/p>\n

    In contrast, Son picked up a booking in the second leg against the Citizens, meaning he is suspended for this week’s tie.<\/p>\n

    Depending on how Pochettino wants to line up, Llorente may finally get the chance he has been waiting for to prove himself on the big stage for the big occasion.<\/p>\n

    If so, it seems the former Swansea City man is ready, telling reporters: “For me it\u2019s unbelievable. It\u2019s an amazing opportunity to give my best to help the team, to demonstrate I can help the team and I will try to do my best.”<\/p>\n