Tottenham Hotspur were beaten by Ajax at White Hart Lane yesterday.
Pochettino lined Spurs up in a 5-3-2 formation to start off with against Ajax, and his side just couldn’t get to grips with the game early on.
Tottenham were completely outplayed in the opening stages, as Ajax dominated.
And Hoddle couldn’t understand why Pochettino decided to go with a three man defence.
“I was shocked they went in with a three,” Hoddle said. “There was no need. They have Tadic who isn’t an out and out centre forward. Why have the three marking one? They were always going to be outnumbered in midfield. I think the players would have thought we want to get at them first-leg, but they couldn’t do it.”
Spurs improved after Jan Vertonghen was forced off with injured and Moussa Sissoko was brought on, but by this time they were behind.
Ajax took the lead early when Donny van de Beek hit the back of the net, and they never really looked like surrendering their advantage.
Tottenham did put up a fight in the second half, but they failed to create many openings.
Spurs and Ajax will meet in the second leg in Holland on Wednesday next week.
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