OPINION
Tottenham will be under no illusions as to how difficult their Champions League semi-final against Ajax will be.
The historic Dutch side have already knocked out Real Madrid and Juventus on their run to the last four, and have done so in a comprehensive and attractive fashion.
Spurs will know that they will have to afford them much more respect than those two did if they are to get anywhere over the next fortnight.
Their problems have, however, been complicated hugely by a lack of personnel.
In midfield, Harry Winks is out and Moussa Sissoko is very much touch and go, but up top is where Spurs are really struggling.
No Harry Kane because of injury, and no Son Heung-min because of suspension means that Mauricio Pochettino essentially faces a straight decision between Fernando Llorente and Lucas Moura.
And if Chris Sutton’s comments on the game are anything to go by, the choice should be a fairly obvious one.
Writing in a column for the Daily Mail, he said: “Mauricio Pochettino’s side must not underestimate their opponents, however, and I’m sure they won’t. This Ajax team is young, athletic and hungry.
“It is no fluke they beat Real Madrid and Juventus to get to the semis of a competition they started in qualifying on July 25.
“In 19-year-old captain Matthijs de Ligt, they have one of the best young centre halves in football. He smells danger.”
De Ligt is a massive figure for this Ajax side and if he gets into his rhythm, the going will be very tough for Tottenham.
He will smother and suppress any semblance of danger as soon as it begins to take shape, and so you would assume that putting a hulking physical presence like Llorente up against him is the best way to go.
Let the youngster know he is in a contest from the first minute, give him a player who isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with him in the air, and see just how ready he is for a bruising encounter on the biggest night of his career so far.”
It could be a dilemma for Pochettino, but if he thinks about it, the decision is a clear one.