It’s all been so nice between Tottenham and Ajax in the build-up to the Champions League semi-final.
With Spurs having several former Ajax players, and there seemingly being a good relationship between the two sides, there hasn’t been too much press sniping, as can often happen when competitions reach this stage.
Former Ajax manager Aad de Mos, now a pundit, did slate Danny Rose’s defensive abilities ahead of the first leg, but the Dutchman is so happy to critique that it would have been odd if he’d not picked someone out.
Now De Telegraaf have an article about Tottenham and being ‘Spursy’.
They call the club ‘Masters of Losing’, and explain there’s not much hope in England of a comeback.
Ajax only took a 1-0 victory back to Amsterdam, so there still should be hope for Mauricio Pochettino’s men, but De Telegraaf say that’s diluted because: ‘After all, they remain Spurs.’
Tottenham have a ‘reputation to uphold’ around going far in competitions but then faltering when the finish line appears.
It’s explained their last league title was in 1961, before many current fans of the club were born, and the 1991 FA Cup victory is seen as ‘not really a top prize’.
The League Cup win of 2008 doesn’t even get a mention. That’s either because the Dutch newspaper haven’t researched well enough, or they simply don’t think it’s worth referencing.
