Last night was arguably the biggest game that Tottenham fans have seen their side play in years. Despite recent near misses domestically in the last three years, the Champions League is different. Ajax looked like blowing them away at the start, but when Moussa Sissoko came on he changed the game and there’s hope of a result in Amsterdam now.
“We’ve still got one more game to play and I’m sure we can do it but we have to show something different.” – @MoussaSissoko #UCL #COYS pic.twitter.com/m5Ko722hpK
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) 30 April 2019
It’s been mentioned once or twice, but what an incredible turnaround Sissoko has had in his career in North London. Mauricio Pochettino has simplified the Frenchman’s game and got him doing what he’s good at. Technical ability is not what Sissoko’s game relies on, it’s his pace and power, carrying the ball through from defence to attack in transition, and he helped turn yesterday’s game in Spurs’ favour.
The likes of Lucas Moura, Fernando Llorente, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen didn’t have their shooting boots on and looked overwhelmed by the occasion in the first half an hour, conceding the only goal of the game in that time. After that, when Jan Vertonghen suffered a nasty head injury, Sissoko came on to give them an added boost and the Lilywhites could not have been happier to see the 29-year-old come on and he looked in his element against the likes of Frenkie De Jong and Donny van de Beek.
You can read the Lilywhites’ thoughts on Sissoko’s display here:
You brought energy. You and Son will be our keys
— Lorenzo Dark Angel + () (@BioNeonHero) 30 April 2019
Sissoko was a game changer! Very happy to see him. Hopefully, he is available for the rest of the games.
— happy day (@rainy20161) May 1, 2019
this man was immense today
— 로또1등러 (@light_deok) 30 April 2019
Top effort tonight Moussa If a couple of lead players in that dressing room gave half the effort you do, we might have had a different result.
— .gavin (@Gavllen) 30 April 2019
Sissoko !; should have been on from first minute.
— HalliGrön (@GronHalli) April 30, 2019
This man! What a sensational season he has had. My POTS by some distance. Another incredible performance tonight This tie is still alive and Sonny will make a big difference at the sharp end. #COYS
— Craig Emanuel (@crimble123) 30 April 2019
https://twitter.com/andreasloftager/status/1123362670869131264
https://twitter.com/jamierobinson73/status/1123497336632696832
The Lilywhites cannot wait for the second leg and will be desperate for Sissoko to start against Ajax when they travel to Amsterdam next Wednesday.
