Martin Jol's tactical briefing: where to decide on Tottenham v Ajax | Soccer

AIt's a Dutchman that goes against my principles, but the Spurs have to stop Frenkie de Jong. He is incredible. You have never seen a player like him. He is like Johan Cruyff in the pbad, but deeper and if he can not pbad it, he escapes. That 's why he goes to Barcelona this summer for 75 million euros.

Since De Jong entered the international scene last year, the Dutch team has developed. Before him, we did not go to the Euro or the World Cup, but with him, we are again a very good country. We beat Germany, we beat France and it's only because of him. You must stop it. If you do not do it, he will kill you.

For Ajax, Cruyff plays 4-3-3, with a No. 6 and two No 8, but the current team is slightly different, because De Jong is better if he can introduce himself and start playing. So they decided to play with two No 6 – Lbade Schöne and De Jong – and a No 10 – Donny van de Beek. Look at him. He was 13 years old in the youth system when I was responsible for Ajax. The system is 4-2-3-1, although Van de Beek plays high. He is almost like a nine and a half.

Hakim Ziyech is on the right but he looks more like a midfielder. He returns, plays in the spaces and he is a smuggler. If he has the ball, the others will attack the spaces and will rush behind. David Neres, the Brazilian, who is a very good talent, is coming out of the left and Dusan Tadic, the former Southampton player, is leading, even though he's not a No 9 But Tadic plays there and it's very difficult for big centers like Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.

If I were Spurs, I would sign Ziyech. He is not the strongest but he is becoming a very good player. There is a thing. Look at Tadic. He was an average player in the Premier League, but in the Netherlands he is one of the best in the league. In the Netherlands, it's not as difficult as you think.

Ajax plays all the time the first time. They play high. But remember what José Mourinho did with Manchester United in the Europa League 2017 final against Ajax? He did not build. As soon as you get ready against Ajax, they will have the ball high because their first press is amazing. But if the Spurs can avoid the first pressure, their next pbad can be deadly.

Matthijs de Ligt, the half-center of Ajax, is probably the best young defender of Europe. It will participate this summer to 80 million euros or more this summer in Barcelona, ​​United or elsewhere. The left-back Nicolás Tagliafico is very good. But if he advances, there is always room behind him.

Christian Eriksen could attract Spurs players in this area, but who? They need runners but they do not have runners for the first leg, Son Heung-min being suspended and Harry Kane injured. Maybe Lucas Moura can enter the space but not Fernando Llorente. He is too still.

With Llorente, you have to play all the time on the front foot, you have to attack and dominate and play in their surface. But Ajax plays through you and hits you at the break. The Spurs are also very good with the first press but Ajax could play around them, especially with De Jong. As a man Spurs, that's my concern.

I'll be sad to see Harry Winks miss and I'll worry if Moussa Sissoko could not do it, because you need someone who can break the transitions, for which Ajax is very talented. Maybe Eric Dier can do it. I would like to see the Spurs play 3-4-3 then they will have a good chance. If they play as Ajax – 4-2-3-1 – they will have a big problem with Ziyech as a reserve midfielder.

The problem with Ajax is that they do not care about the Spurs. Or Real Madrid or Juventus, two players they have dominated and beaten at home this season. They play a bit like the Netherlands 25 years ago. When they play against the biggest teams, they are so good that they do not care. It will be a fascinating game.