This is easily our biggest match of the season so far. It is amazing that we are in the CL semi finals for the first time ever despite not winning any trophy since 2008. We have to make the most of it. We are the only team in the semi finals not to have won the EC/CL before. Remember, Barcelona(5), Liverpool(5) and Ajax(4) have won the trophy before. So, we will be the minnows in the land of the giants ! Surely, Ajax should start as the favourites in the semi final due to their pedigree in Europe. After all, they beat 13-time champions Real Madrid in the quarter finals. So, all the pressure will be on Ajax to do well against us. Since we are playing the first leg at home, we should do our best to get a good result to bring to the second leg away.
Too bad Kane is out injured while Son is suspended for this match. With them not playing, we need others like Moura, Eriksen and Alli to lift their game and try to get the goals for us. I think Moura will be our key player to get a goal or two. Hope Moura will be clinical in front of goal like against Huddersfield when he scored the hattrick. Eriksen can really hurt any team when he is at his best. Hope Eriksen will be on fire against Ajax. Alli has been largely poor this season. Let's hope Alli will be lifted playing in the CL semi final. I think Llorente should not start as we don't play well when he starts in attack. Llorente can come late in the match as needed.
Our midfield is going to be key if we want to win this match. Hope Sissoko will be fully fit to start with Wanyama in midfield. Sissoko's hard work and runs can trouble Ajax. But Sissoko do need to improve his finishing. It will help us greatly if Sissoko can score or assist a goal or two. We also need Wanyama to stop the Ajax attacks. But Wanyama need to improve his passes and avoid giving away the ball needlessly. I think if we win the midfield battle, we will win this match.
Our defence need to be fully alert against Ajax. We did well to keep the clean sheet at home against Dortmund and ManCity in previous rounds. Hope we will do the same against Ajax. We cannot afford to to concede any goal against Ajax as that will make it difficult in the second leg. Also, really hope Pochettino will resist the temptation to start Sanchez in this match. Our defence always becomes error-prone whenever Sanchez starts. We are at our best when only Alderweireld and Vertonghen are playing in centre defence. Hope Lloris, Alderweireld and Vertonghen will be at their best to stop Ajax.
This is going to be another tense match for us. Ajax seems to enjoy playing away more as they have beaten Real Madrid and Juventus away. So, we need to treat Ajax carefully and play our best match against them. Let's hope we will turn up with the right team and mentality to get a comfortable win to bring to the second leg away.
