'It's all going quite fast' - Van der Beek says Ajax's journey began last summer

Ajax midfielder Donny van der Beek, one of a crop of homegrown youngsters who have propelled four-times winners Ajax to their first Champions League semi-final since 1997, made the point that their journey began last summer.

Ajax were actually playing in a second qualifying round tie against Austrians Sturm Graz in July, then beat Standard Liege to reach the playoffs where they overcame Dynamo Kiev.

That put them in a group containing Bayern Munich, but they emerged undefeated before beating Real Madrid in the last 16 and Juventus in the quarter-finals.

Now they are in sight of the final as well as being neck-and -neck with PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch title race.

'It's all going quite fast,' Van der Beek said, before a training session in Tottenham's new stadium which was open for the public to attend for the full duration.

'Spurs are a great team with great players and we will have to be at the same level or better than we were against Real and Juventus in the last two rounds.'

Ajax might never have a better chance to reclaim the trophy before the so-called European heavyweights close in to pick off their best talent - as has happened in the case of midfielder Frenkie de Jong who will join Barcelona this summer.