Tottenham Hotspur now need to win in Holland if they are to progress to the finals of the Champions League.
Arsene Wenger has claimed that players are now being ‘convinced’ that they are ‘tired’ following Mauricio Pochettino’s comments about his Tottenham players being ‘stressed’ and ‘fatigued’.
After their 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Saturday, Pochettino admitted that his players were tired leading up to their Champions League semi-final showdown against Ajax, as reported by Sky Sports.
On Tuesday, they suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of their European tie, with a number of key players missing for the North London club, from the injured Harry Kane to the suspended Heung-Min Son.
Speaking to Bein Sports, former Arsenal manager, Wenger was seemingly critical of Pochettino’s comments leading up to the Ajax tie as he claimed that ‘we are contaminated’ by those making fatigue-like comments.
“You have too many scientists today who convince you that you are tired,” Wenger told Bein Sports. “I think we speak too much about fatigue now. We are contaminated as well.”
Leading up to this game, Spurs were in Premier League action over the weekend, whilst the Dutch FA allowed their team to prepare for this match by having a week off.
That wouldn’t have helped Tottenham’s cause because they have a thin squad as it is and Pochettino is having to deal with a number of injuries or suspensions to key players.
Nonetheless, they will be hoping to turn things around in Holland as Pochettino’s side now have to win the second leg if they are to have any chance of making the final.
On a positive note, Son will be back for that match, with the South Korea international being a key figure for the club in the final third this season.
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