Tottenham Hotspur need to beat Ajax in the return leg if they want to progress to the finals of the Champions League.
Heung-Min Son missed Tottenham’s 1-0 Champions League semi-final defeat to Ajax on Tuesday night and Erik ten Hag is confident his team can deal with him when he makes a return from suspension for the second leg.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side were second best in front of their own supporters as the Dutch giants outclassed them in North London to gain an advantage in this huge European encounter.
Ajax have a lead, but it is a slender lead and Spurs will fancy their chances of reversing the scoreline when the two teams meet in Holland next week, especially with Son available to play.
Speaking to Bein Sports, Ten Hag admitted that Son is a ‘very good player’, but he stated in a stern manner that he has the players to stop him from causing any problems.
On Son being a threat for the second leg: “Of course, he’s a very good player,” Ten Hag told Bein Sports. “When he’s not available for Spurs, that’s a disadvantage for them.
“But still we also have good players and very good players to defend him and we will do.”
Fernando Llorente was given the task to start in the forward role for Pochettino’s side as they struggled in the opening stages of the game.
Donny van de Beek opened the scoring after 15 minutes when he was left unmarked in the penalty area as he casually guided the ball past Hugo Lloris.
Pochettino started with a back five against the Eredivisie side, but when Jan Vertonghen went off with a head injury just before the hour mark, he changed his tactics.
There is no doubt that when Son returns to Tottenham’s starting XI for the second leg, he will add pace to the attacking third and be that mobile outlet Spurs are looking for.
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