Fernando Llorente on Spurs' Champions League semi-final: 'If we play like we did against West Ham, we'll lose'
No Harry Kane, no Heung-Min Son, no chance? Not according to Fernando Llorente, even though he admitted that Tottenham Hotspur can forget about getting past Ajax in the Champions League semi-finals if they play anything like they did against West Ham United.
Son is suspended for Tuesday night’s first leg, but was available to face West Ham and squandered a good early opportunity against the Hammers, who became the first opponents to win at Tottenham’s new stadium thanks to Michail Antonio’s well-taken goal.
But minds on the pitch and in the home stands appeared to be elsewhere, as Spurs prepare for the visit of Ajax and attempt to plot how they will make up for the losses of Kane to injury and Son to his one-game ban.
Llorente, who started on the substitutes’ bench on Saturday, is hoping to be central to those plans having scored the goal that clinched Tottenham’s progress in the quarter-finals against Manchester City.
“I need to fight for them (Kane and Son) because, for sure, they are not happy because they are injured or can’t play, and we’ll have to fight more and demonstrate we can do well without them,” said Llorente.
“For me, it’s unbelievable, it’s an amazing opportunity to give my best to help the team, to demonstrate I can help and I will try to do my best.”
Fortunately for Spurs, Llorente has experience of these occasions. The 34-year-old made a substitutes’ appearance in the 2015 Champions League final for Juventus and is determined to make the most of an opportunity that many would not have expected to come again.
“I always think each one can be last,” said Llorente. “For this, I will fight as if it is the last time.
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“This kind of game doesn’t need to be prepared for because the mentality of all the players will be different to what it was against West Ham. But if we play like that against Ajax, then for sure we will lose.”
Asked if the West Ham defeat could act as a timely wake-up call, Llorente answered: “Maybe it’s better, no? It’s right, we need to wake up because if we play like this on Tuesday, then we lose easy.”
Llorente had looked set to leave Tottenham in January until Kane suffered his last ankle injury and the Spaniard could now play a key part in the decisive part of the club’s season.
The way Kane walked towards the exit with a cheery “hello” to journalists on Saturday afternoon suggested he might yet manage to return in time for a Champions League final, but, until then, Llorente knows he will be under pressure to produce when called upon.
“It was not easy when I was not playing, but I am strong,” said Llorente. “I am not a new or young player, I have experience and I always keep fighting and try to get my opportunities.
“If I have the opportunity, for sure, I will try to play as well as I can and will try to score. Against Ajax, we need to win and keep a clean sheet.”
On his impact against City, Llorente added: “It was very difficult at the beginning to get the opportunity to play a game like that, but sometimes if you have faith and keep fighting, you have these opportunities. I was ready to do well with this opportunity.
“The goal was off my hip, it was my first one like that. But for sure it was the most important goal of my career because we qualified to the semi-final of the Champions League and that is a very important thing.
“If we play at the level we played against Man City, we can do something. But, like I said, if we play like today, for sure no.”
Antonio believes West Ham have shown Ajax how to get at the Tottenham defence, which was missing Jan Vertonghen. Manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was “sure” the Belgian will return from fatigue on Tuesday night.
Asked if Ajax could learn from his team’s performance, Antonio said: “Yes definitely. The gaffer knew what we had to do and that was make runs in behind them because their defenders do not like to face their own goal.
“So that’s what we did. We kept getting in behind their full-backs and centre-halves. That’s how we created the goal and this victory.”
Mark Noble added: “For the club and especially the fans this year that bit of bragging rights of being the first team to win here in history, they can always have in their back pockets for the rest of time. They can go to work happy.”
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