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Spurs Being Leicester Citied Again? Now in UCL by Ajax?

By Aaron Coe

MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 17: Christian Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur speaks to the media during the Tottenham Hotspur press conference at San Siro Stadium on September 17, 2018 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 17: Christian Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur speaks to the media during the Tottenham Hotspur press conference at San Siro Stadium on September 17, 2018 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham Hotspur are not considered one of the traditional powerhouses in Europe yet Spurs are not the fairy-tale story in their first ever UCL semi-final, as Ajax is the long-shot of affection.

As a Spurs fan, I feel like we’ve been here before. Let’s face it, while neither team is a slouch, Ajax is the more Cinderella story of the two squads, and likely will get the backing of the neutrals. This is tough for Spurs and Spurs faithful, as it was just a couple seasons ago, when a long-shot Leicester City team caught lightening in the Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez combination that carried the Foxes to their first ever Premier League crown.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 13: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal with his team mates during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 13: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal with his team mates during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

While Tottenham had some neutral support, it was always obvious that the most neutral fans and observers were pulling for the true underdog story of Leicester City a team thought destined for a relegation scrap who walked away with the league. In any previous season, Tottenham battling and besting Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City would have gained the support of the neutral fan rooting for an underdog story. Ultimately, Leicester was an even bigger, even more unlikely underdog and won it all.

This brings us back to this year, with Ajax and Tottenham. If only this were the final how fitting it would be. But only one of the two teams will advance to face off against perennial powerhouse Barcelona or seemingly unbeatable Liverpool. If Spurs opposition were any of the eliminated teams from the previous round Manchester City, Juventus, Manchester United, or Porto, Spurs would likely be seen by most as the underdog and get some neutral support.

TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 16: The Ajax players lead by Matthijs de Ligt (R) celebrate in front of the travelling supporters following the 2-1 victory during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between Juventus and Ajax at Juventus Stadium on April 16, 2019 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 16: The Ajax players lead by Matthijs de Ligt (R) celebrate in front of the travelling supporters following the 2-1 victory during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between Juventus and Ajax at Juventus Stadium on April 16, 2019 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /

As it is, Ajax soundly defeated Juventus and are really NOT a Cinderella story, at least no more than Spurs are. If you read anything on transfers, including on this site, there are calls for some of the biggest teams in the world, Barcelona, United, PSG to sign some of the stars of this young Ajax side. Given their youth, not to mention Spurs injuries and a small issue of a one-game ban for Heung-Min Son and suddenly you must ask, who is really the underdog here, who is really going to win it all?

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