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Champions League final: Mauricio Pochettino relishing Liverpool vs Tottenham showdown against ‘amazing’ opponents

Tottenham fouhgt back to beat Ajax in Amsterdam and reached the Champions League final on away goals to set-up an all-Premier League affair against Liverpool

Jonathan Veal
Thursday 09 May 2019 07:35 BST
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Mauricio Pochettino hints at leaving should Spurs win the Champions League

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is predicting an "amazing" Champions League final against Liverpool.

Spurs followed their Premier League rivals to Madrid by replicating their miraculous comeback against Barcelona by seeing off Ajax.

The side were dead and buried at half-time of their semi-final second leg in Amsterdam as they trailed 3-0 on aggregate.

But Lucas Moura completed a stunning second-half hat-trick, with the third coming deep into injury time, to send Spurs through to a first ever Champions League final on away goals and spark amazing scenes in the Johan Cryuff ArenA.

Pochettino was reduced to tears after the game after performing what he called a "miracle" and they will now meet Jurgen Klopp's side in the Spanish capital on June 1.

Allow me to relax a little bit, there is going to be time to talk about Liverpool," he said.

"I want to congratulate Jurgen Klopp and all the players and Liverpool, because I think they were amazing.

"We enjoyed a lot, watching the tie against Barcelona, they are heroes too and of course it is going to be an amazing final between two English teams that for sure we are going to enjoy."

Spurs have battled against two transfer windows without making a signing, a crippling injury list and playing most of the season at Wembley, leading Pochettino to call his players "superheroes".

"It's difficult with words to describe my feelings and my emotions," he said.

Mauricio Pochettino celebrates Tottenham's victory over Ajax after they reached the Champions League final (PA)

"I think it's one of the most important nights in my life. How the game finished, everything that happened, the first half, how we planned to play, how the plan was down after three minutes when we conceded the goal, and I think everything was amazing.

"The most important thing I want to say is to congratulate my players. They own the football, they delivered a great job.

"For me, they are heroes. I've told you the last six months, I repeat this sentence.

"I think they are superheroes now. To get the club to the final of the Champions League I think is very close to a miracle.

"No-one believed in us from the beginning of the season. We are so close to the top four and have the opportunity in Madrid to play the final against Liverpool.

Lucas Moura's hat-trick propelled Spurs into the Champions League final (Reuters)

"It is an amazing season in our new home. This chapter that we're going to close now, until June 1, it can be amazing to close the chapter playing a final. In case we win, it should be an amazing book."

PA

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