Spurs midfielder blames his teammates following Ajax loss

Christian Eriksen insists Tottenham players were to blame in Tuesday’s first leg defeat against Ajax in the semi-final of the Champions League. 

Ajax totally dominated the Premier League side in the first 20 minutes of the clash and deservedly opened the scoring after just 15 minutes through Donny van de Beek and went on to hold on for another famous win. 

Despite regaining control of the match in the second half, Mauricio Pochettino’s men failed to trouble the Ajax goal with the unavailability of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min apparent. 

“We were under-par, we didn’t play our best at all. In the first 20 minutes, we were ball-watchers,” Eriksen told BT Sport. 

“We need to change it up a lot for the next game.

“We made them look a lot better. They are a good side, but we helped them along the way. It was our fault. We were better in the second half.

“No one wanted to play the first half we did. Everyone knew we didn’t compete. We still lost, but we were better in the second half.

Spurs, who are still in contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League face Bournemouth away from home on Saturday.