Ajax 2-3 Tottenham: Injured Harry Kane inspired Spurs to incredible Champions League victory with half-time team talk

An inspirational speech from Harry Kane helped Tottenham mount their incredible comeback in the Champions League semi-final defeat of Ajax.

A nightmare opening 45 minutes in the second leg saw Spurs trail 2-0 on the night as goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Hakim Ziyech made it 3-0 on aggregate to Ajax, with Tottenham’s elimination appearing inevitable.

However, in a remarkable second-half turnaround at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Spurs were a side transformed.

Tottenham completed an almost impossible turnaround to book their place in the Champions League final

A stunning hat-trick from Brazilian Lucas Moura sent the Premier League side through on away goals where they will face Liverpool in their first ever Champions League final on June 1.

And England captain Kane had a role to play in Amsterdam, even though he could not get on the pitch due to an ankle injury he suffered during the quarter-finals.

The striker, who is racing to be fit for next month’s final, was sat in the stands to watch his team-mates, though he entered the dressing room at half-time after being distressed by their poor showing in the opening 45 minutes.

“It was a disappointing first half and we let them play,” Kane said after the match. “I went into the dressing room at half-time and we knew it wasn’t good enough.

“We said we had 45 minutes to give everything. I’m a fan first and foremost and I know how much it means to the club.

Despite his injury Harry Kane was still there to galvanise his team-mates

“The lads dug deep and showed passion and that is all you can ask for. We had to wait to get the third in the last minute and we found a way. I’m just speechless. I’m a fan, I want to win and I know how much it means to everyone at the club.

“I’m looking at the game and thinking about what I’d be doing out there. You can’t switch out of that mode but the lads showed passion, spirit and heart.”

Kieran Trippier, a team-mate of Kane’s for both club and country, admitted the forward did not hold back when addressing Mauricio Pochettino’s players.

“Harry is exceptional for club and country,” said Trippier.

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“I don’t know the timescale with his injury but obviously we’re all hoping he can be back because of his presence, even here at half-time, he’s coming in going mental at us because we can do better which we all knew.

“But this is what we need, the leadership that he has, the way he came in at half-time. He wasn’t happy and we all knew that.

“He just gives us that extra lift because his presence is massive for us.”

After the match, the jubilant Spurs players were filmed celebrating by singing Oasis hit Wonderwall, while an emotional Pochettino was pictured crying on the pitch and when addressing the media.

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