‘We were intimidated’: Tottenham were overawed by Ajax challenge at start of Champions League semi-final, suggests Moussa Sissoko
- Tottenham lost 1-0 on Tuesday night in Champions League against Ajax
- Donny van de Beek scored only goal of the game after early dominance
- Moussa Sissoko suggested that the team had been intimidated early doors
Moussa Sissoko has claimed Tottenham were ‘intimidated’ by Ajax in their Champions League semi-final first leg defeat.
Ajax, the surprise team of the competition, moved closer to a place in the final with a 1-0 win away from home at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium courtesy of Donny van de Beek’s goal.
That strike followed the Dutch giants dominating the early proceedings and they may have scored more.
Moussa Sissoko (right) has suggested Spurs were ‘intimidated’ on Tuesday evening
Ajax won the first-leg of Champions League semi-final away courtesy of Donny van de Beek
Sissoko’s introduction from the bench for Jan Vertonghen, who went off with a head injury, changed the game and Spurs improved even more following a tactical rejig.
Yet the 29-year-old admitted his team-mates struggled during the opening stages of the game.
‘The start of the match was not good on our part, we were perhaps intimidated by the challenge,’ he told RMC Sport.
‘We did not play our football. I tried to bring back the impact, in the second half it was better, we could have done better, it’s a shame to lose this match but there is a second leg.
Sissoko insisted that it was only the first round ahead of the return leg in Amsterdam
‘The first thing in football is the impact – especially in this kind of match. This is only the first round.’
Ajax have already eliminated Real Madrid and Juventus from the Champions League after second-leg turnarounds away from home.
Sissoko now insists Spurs securing qualification at the Johan Cruyff Arena next Wednesday would feel even better.
‘We knew what this team was capable of – we saw it against Real Madrid and Juve, there is a lot of carefreeness and serenity in this team,’ he added.
‘If we get the qualification there, it will be even more beautiful.’