Ruud Gullit tore into Dele Alli, Victor Wanyama and Danny Rose following Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat to Ajax in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Donny van de Beek finished off a slick team as Ajax scored a crucial away goal in the 15th minute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Mauricio Pochettino’s men will be battling against the odds in Amsterdam next Wednesday.
Spurs lacked potency in attack without Harry Kane and Son Heung-min and Erik ten Hag’s young side greatly restricted their chances with the north London club only managing one shot on target across the 90 minutes.
Former Chelsea and Netherlands star Gullit slammed a number of Spurs players after the final whistle and actually laughed when describing the lacklustre performances of Alli, Wanyama and Rose.
‘They [Ajax] were under pressure but even under pressure they could hold their defence. They didn’t give away a chance,’ he told beIN SPORTS.
‘But, for me, a lot of players were disappointing because I see them every week in the Premier League.
“I’m very proud of them.”
“But a lot of players, disappointing. Dele Alli…so bad!”
Dutch legend @GullitR full of pride for that Ajax performance but in disbelief over Tottenham’s.#beINUCL #TOTAJA
All the match highlights ⬇️ https://t.co/B7Xf7og0NW pic.twitter.com/y5nVpwxkT2
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) April 30, 2019
‘Dele Alli, oh my god, technically wise so bad. [Victor] Wanyama, my god, technically wise, [Danny] Rose too.
‘Like I said I see them every week and how is it possible to make so many mistakes?
‘I know you’re under pressure but you need to know what to do and they didn’t.’
Pochettino was impressed with Tottenham’s display after going behind and insisted the tie is still ‘alive’ ahead of the second leg.
‘In the first half we did not start in a good way. Ajax showed more energy, it was difficult for us to play. It was our lack of energy,’ he told BT Sport.
‘After we conceded the goal – 25 to 30 minutes in – we started to be in the game. Moussa Sissoko provided good energy.
‘Second half we pushed them and tried to create chances. It was an even game in the second half.
‘We are alive. It’s only 1-0 down. We need to believe we can go there and win the game.
Asked about Spurs’ switch to a five-man defence, he replied: ‘I can accept it was a mistake the shape we used – but there were not too many options. I am not happy – you cannot guess what happens if we play in a different way.
‘It was the not the shape that conceded the goal. Our approach to the game was not good. I am the manager so I have responsibility.’
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