Toby Alderweireld has told Ajax that their 'boys are coming home' after Tottenham's dramatic Champions League quarter-final victory over Manchester City set up a semi-final clash with the Dutch giants.
Although Spurs were beaten 4-3 by City in their second leg tie at the Etihad, they progressed to the semi-finals for the first time in their history courtesy of the away goal rule, having kept City out during a 1-0 win at home last week.
It means that Spurs will face Ajax in the last four, playing the first leg at their new stadium at the end of April before travelling to Amsterdam for the return in early May and a number of Spurs' squad will be returning to familiar surroundings.
Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen all came through the youth ranks at Ajax before joining Spurs, while Davinson Sanchez also spent a season in the Netherlands prior to becoming Spurs' club-record signing in August 2017.
In a post on Twitter, Alderweireld said: ‘We are making history! Ajax your boys coming home. #COYS’ and tagged his teammates in the post.
Alderweireld and Vertonghen first blossomed as a central defensive partnership during their time in Amsterdam, helping Ajax win consecutive titles in 2011 and 2012. Vertonghen left after the second title win to join Spurs, while Alderweireld stuck around for another year to win another, prior to joining Atletico Madrid in 2013.
Eriksen was also a key part of those three title wins and he followed Vertonghen directly to Spurs a year later. Sanchez, meanwhile, represented Ajax during the 2016-17 campaign and helped the club to runners-up finishes in the Eredivisie and Europa League.
Ajax reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1997 after defeating Juventus in the quarter-finals, while they also eliminated the reigning champions Real Madrid in the last-16.
Usernameplease
1
Don't underestimate us, without your star attackers (Kane, Son) you do not do so well. I'd like a 4-3 victory for Ajax for the first two legs. It's intriguing also, the fact that your side Tottenham have a bad record in semi-finals, never underestimate the minnows.
Yessss cmon ajax !! het zal leuk zijn als ajax tottenham verslaat, maar mijn voorspellingen zijn 2-0 agg Yessss cmon ajax!! it will be nice if ajax beat tottenham but my predictions are 2-0 agg
dupptyz
2
Don't underestimate us, without your star attackers (Kane, Son) you do not do so well. I'd like a 4-3 victory for Ajax for the first two legs. It's intriguing also, the fact that your side Tottenham have a bad record in semi-finals, never underestimate the minnows.
Chucks0147
0
Now they just made it easier for Ajax to get to the finals. I don’t see Tottenham knocking Ajax out.
Ofcourse I do. They were already 1 goal up at home, the job was to score as possible in Ethiad and that’s just what was done, same with Ajax but the difference is the mentality of Ajax, just watch the match against Juventus again and you would’ve seen that they were relentless and extremely eager, that’s the difference. I can compare them to Croatia of the WC
Draz45
0
Now they just made it easier for Ajax to get to the finals. I don’t see Tottenham knocking Ajax out.
You're a joke, this how y'all saw BvB knock Spurs out, Tbh witcha, Overconfidence will kill Ajax.. trust me, just like BvB, winning against Bayern in the league, smashing Atletico 4 goals, being at the top of the league.. they believed they'll do it against Spurs.. but the experience at such levels when teams playing more for passion is key, that's why you see Spurs found a way to beat Inter and PSV when it mattered most, not forgetting BvB!
Draz45
0
Without Kane and Son, the game would be extremely hard!
Without Kane or Alli.. Sons' time without Son, Kane and Alli.. Mouras' time
Draz45
0
Spur should be weary of this Ajax side..... Coz I will bet Ajax to win against Spur....
Lol, Spurs will beat them tbh, Spurs like Ajax they play for passion, The quality packed in Spurs will tear them apart
Nuel_Moo
5
Spur should be weary of this Ajax side..... Coz I will bet Ajax to win against Spur....
FungSaiYuk
0
Have You seen Them knocking out city ??
Nice question? Football is unpredictable.
montestiokah
1
Spurs u better be ready for ajax
pumpkinin
0
Spurs good luck the next round
OverratedShit
2
Now they just made it easier for Ajax to get to the finals. I don’t see Tottenham knocking Ajax out.
Have You seen Them knocking out city ??
lively
0
Fantastic top 4 of the UEFA Champions League
Sharing
2
Without Kane and Son, the game would be extremely hard!
Sambill
0
Go hotspurs, make a bigger bigger history
Chucks0147
1
Now they just made it easier for Ajax to get to the finals. I don’t see Tottenham knocking Ajax out.
Johnnytut
0
Ajax has bigger chance to enter the final
Fordroad
0
Son can't play in the first round, neither of Harry Kane, such a loss
popzlim
0
Ajax is the best teenager training camp in Europe
Heroselisee
1
I saw so many faces in the young squad of Ajax
Zhuroffe
0
Making history!
Vibilpstu
1
Dis will be a titanic of football with two teams who play with so so much energy 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪
AdityaChaudhary10
0
It's definitely gonna be tough for Spurs, specially, without Son in the first leg but it won't be a surprise if either of them pull it off...
not tough. Ajax will tear their dream of UCL apart
Sangpipp
2
Ajax = spur academy
Spartacus_Aye419
0
No Son, no Kane. Dele Alli isn't playing his game, Plus Sissokho not sure of Playing the First Leg. Tottenham Hotspur has a lot to deal with, considering how those Ajax Kids are Ripping off the Giants of the Game
Yusuf_Tokee
2
It's definitely gonna be tough for Spurs, specially, without Son in the first leg but it won't be a surprise if either of them pull it off...