Paul Merson comments on Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League exploits

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Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur won against Manchester City in the Champions League.

Former Arsenal attacking midfielder Paul Merson has suggested in The Daily Star that Tottenham Hotspur can progress to the final of the Champions League this season.

Tottenham have booked their place in the semi-finals of Europe’s premier club competition after getting the better of Premier League rivals Manchester City in the quarter-finals.

The North London outfit will take on Dutch giants Ajax in the semi-finals, and Merson believes that Spurs can get the job done.

Merson has also suggested that Spurs need to rest players in the Premier League in their quest to reach the final of the Champions League.

Merson wrote in The Daily Star: “They need to rest players in the league now because this chance might never come again. These players could play for years and never get to another Champions League semi final.

“You can’t underestimate Ajax after what they’ve done in the tournament so far. But Real Madrid and Juventus paid them no respect at all. They just turned up expecting to win.

“They didn’t change the gameplan at all. Spurs will. Spurs won’t play that open against them. If they are at their best, Tottenham will beat Ajax. They are better defensively than Madrid and Juventus.

“Spurs keep saying they are a big club now with a big stadium, well here is a chance to prove it. They’ve come this far. Make the most of it.”

Not many will have expected Tottenham to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League this season, but the North London outfit have done just that, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be confident of going all the way to the final of Europe’s premier club competition.

Meanwhile, Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen has given his take on facing his former club Ajax.

The Belgium international defender started his professional club football career at the Dutch giants and played for them until 2012 when he made the switch to Tottenham.

Vertonghen told iNews: “Obviously it’s crazy that they’re there, an even bigger surprise that Ajax is there than us probably. I follow them every game, I speak to the people at the club, I know how good they are, I’ve watched every game.

“At the beginning in the Champions League they surprised everyone but now it’s not a surprise any more. They are of this level, they are Champions League semi-final quality.

“That’s how it is. It will be an unbelievable battle between two positive sides. I know how good they are, because obviously knocking Real Madrid and Juventus out is crazy.”