'Spurs a bit of a let down' - reaction to Ajax victory

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand on BT Sport: "It was professional and mature from Ajax. In the first half they played fantastic football.

"In Spurs defence, if you take 44 goals out of the side in Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, any team would suffer.

"I do think they are still in it. Their away form in this tournament shows they are capable of getting a result."

Former Spurs manager Glenn Hoddle on BT Sport: "Very, very disappointing. No creativity, no width. It was a very lacklustre performance.

"They didn't move the ball quick enough. Yes they are missing some key players - Harry Kane and Son Heung-min - but it was still disappointing."

Well it wasn't the night Tottenham had hoped for but the tie is not over. We'll be doing this all over again next week!

In the meantime, there's just a small matter of Liverpool v Barcelona. I'll be back on the live text from around 17:00 BST tomorrow night to build up to that.

You can find Phil McNulty's match report from tonight's game here and I'll leave you with some of the best reaction...

Speaking on BT Sport, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said: "Son Heung-Min is back for the next game and he is a real positive for Spurs. They have to use that to their advantage."

There's been plenty of action in the English football leagues tonight.

Bury have been promoted to League One after drawing at sixth-placed Tranmere Rovers, whose own hopes of winning automatic promotion were ended.

And Luton Town and Barnsley have secured promotion back to the Championship after Portsmouth and Sunderland lost.

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino on BT Sport: "First half we started not in a good way. Ajax showed more energy, it was difficult for us to play. It was our lack of energy.

"After we conceded the goal - 25 to 30 minutes in - we started to be in the game. Moussa Sissoko provided good energy.

"Second half we pushed them and tried to create chances. It was an even game in the second half. We are alive. It's only 1-0 down. We need to believe we can go there and win the game.

On playing with a five-man defence: "Watching now of course I can accept it was a mistake the shape we used. But there were not too many options. I am not happy - you cannot guess what happens if we play in a different way. But our lack of energy... and a little sloppy.

"It was the not the shape that conceded the goal. Our approach to the game was not good. I am the manager so i have responsibility."

On Vertonghen's head injury: "We will assess him in the next few days and we will see."

We've been asking you whether the Champions League is the best tournament. We've selected some of the best responses below, and remember, YOU can get involved in the debate here.

Jose Fernando Cuesta, Columbia: The Champions League is the best show on earth. It has the best teams from the most competitive leagues, the best players and the best venues.

Nick, Maidenhead: The World Cup is by far the best. There’s no ocean of money involved for the teams and you can’t buy and sell your players. With club football, you have a model where the teams are interchangeable playthings of anonymous billionaires. With international football, you can’t trade, you can’t just buy a solution, you have to work at it. It’s a purer form of sport.

Spurs play a certain way when Son-Heung Min is in the side and they steer those balls between the centre-backs and down the side.

Nicolas Tagliafico and Joel Veltman will have a harder game in the second leg because of the work Son gets through. It is an extra threat.

Ajax goalscorer Donny van de Beek on BT Sport: “The first 30 minutes we played really good. After that, Tottenham changed something tactical and we had problems. 1-0 is OK and next week we have to finish it.

“The beginning was good, but after that we played not what we can. We have to make a good plan for next week.

“We have to stay calm. I don’t know what they will do in the next game. We can do better and we have to watch for next week.”

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

SMS Message: Spurs's lack of summer transfer business coming back to bite. No real depth in their squad once they lose one or two first team players. from Graham, Liverpool

Spurs's lack of summer transfer business coming back to bite. No real depth in their squad once they lose one or two first team players.

Sure, Tottenham were missing key players tonight. But they just weren't at it for most of the match were they? They need to show up next week!

Ajax have won a Champions League semi-final match for the first time since 17 April 1996 (3-0 at Panathinaikos). Today's goalscorer Donny van de Beek (18 April 1997) was not even born then.

Spurs have got quality players, but as a team, there was a gulf in class. Ajax played together and took their training onto the pitch whereas Spurs played like individuals in the final third.

SMS Message: Stats don't lie, that was a fairly even game despite (1) Ajax having a whole weeks rest, (2) Spurs being without several key players and (3) Vertonghen (in my opinion our most important defender) being battered half to death within 40 mins. Second half of the 180 will be a different tale. from Joe, London

Stats don't lie, that was a fairly even game despite (1) Ajax having a whole weeks rest, (2) Spurs being without several key players and (3) Vertonghen (in my opinion our most important defender) being battered half to death within 40 mins. Second half of the 180 will be a different tale.

Only one of the 17 previous teams to lose the first leg at home in a European Cup/Champions League semi-final tie has progressed into the final - Ajax in 1995-96.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Spurs midfielder Christian Eriksen on BT Sport: “We were under-par, we didn’t play our best at all. In the first 20 minutes, we were ball-watchers. 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.

“At the start, the system didn’t matter. The change gave us a different way to press, to play more direct. But we were still far from where we know we can be.

“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.

“We can’t keep talking about injured players. In a semi-final it doesn’t matter who plays, we have to step up. We’re lucky they hit the post and hopefully we can turns things around in Amsterdam.”

I had so much concussion during my career. You have to stay still and do exactly what you are told.

Going back on the pitch was incredibly risky for Jan Vertonghen because if there was any challenge near him, it could have been terrible.

If the player is saying he is OK, it is difficult for a medical professional to say 'no you cannot go back on'.

Ajax fans are having a PARTY. Don't blame them. They will be thinking ahead to Madrid...

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand on BT Sport: "It was professional and mature from Ajax. In the first half they played fantastic football.

"In Spurs defence, if you take 44 goals out of the side in Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, any team would suffer.

"I do think they are still in it. Their away form in this tournament shows they are capable of getting a result."