Tottenham welcome Ajax to their new stadium for the eagerly anticipated first leg of their Champions League semi-final in a game which will see the Dutch side well-rested.
In the build-up to the game, Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said it was unfair that Ajax had the weekend off to prepare while they were in action against West Ham in the Premier League.
The reality is they are going to have more time to prepare and avoid risk. When you play Saturday and Tuesday, and the game on Saturday is a derby, playing for big things, the concentration and effort is massive. You can have some problems.
But it's not a complaint. The fact is I think it's not fair.
Speaking on RTE Sport, former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann was not convinced it was an advantage but still called on the UEFA to do something in situations like this.
I'm not sure UEFA should have allowed the Dutch league postpone the entire programme. If they say 'we didn't expect you to get to a semi-final' which is probably true. We have a similar situation with Frankfurt who play on a Sunday instead of Saturday because they have a game Thursday, the whole league agreed to it.
If the Dutch league said we play on Friday, or on Saturday lunchtime, not a problem. But to postpone the whole fixture of games, I don't agree with it and I'm very surprised.
The panel on Pochettino's complaints about Ajax's 'unfair advantage' of a week off ahead of tonight's semi-final pic.twitter.com/HVxOmG0GdJ
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) April 30, 2019
However, Richie Sadlier disagreed and said it's purely an internal matter.
"It's up to the Dutch FA. Uefa's position is usually in a domestic league there are certain things you have to abide by but if it is an internal decision that doesn't influence anyone else, I don't know why they would have to get involved."
From a Spurs perspective, the quick body of games does not help their already lengthy injury list. Tonight they will be without Harry Kane, Serge Aurier, Erik Lamela, Moussa Sissoko and Harry Winks.
Kick-off is at 8.00.
