Just what is it about the Champions League and drama? If there was one word to sum up Tuesday’s offering at Anfield, it would be breathless and if there was one to sum up events in Amsterdam the following night, it would be emotional.
While it was emotion that Mauricio Pochettino simply could not hide on Wednesday evening. He witnessed his group of warriors achieve, what at one point looked like the unthinkable and that was to overturn what had become a 3-0 aggregate lead for Ajax.
Going into the interval, Tottenham knew that it was do-or-die for the upcoming 45 minutes that were to follow and if ever was a time to be a hero, then this was very much the one. Step forward Brazilian international, Lucas Moura.
The former Paris Saint-Germain forward scored two quickfire goals to give the North London outfit hope and although they pushed for the third goal that would subsequently see them progress to the final by virtue of the away goals rule, it looked like it wasn’t going to be their night.
This was none more evident than when Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen’s header crashed off of the bar with just three minutes remaining and at that point, you would have had every right to think that Ajax had advanced by the skin of their teeth.
Only there was still time for one last twist in the tale and one that came in the shape of Lucas Moura completing his hat-trick in the dying seconds of the game - a goal that sent the travelling Spurs fans into nothing short of delirium.
It was just reward for a sensational comeback and although Mauricio Pochettino was in floods of tears after the game, he still had the wherewithal to know that focus also needed to shift over to Sunday and the visit of Everton.
Although Tottenham are not mathematically confirmed as finishing in the top four of the Premier League just yet, it will take an incredible swing of results for this not to happen and therefore the Argentine can rest easy going into this weekend’s activity.
It would need a bizarre combination of results for Arsenal to overtake their nearest rivals and with the Gunners being so indifferent as of late, not even them picking up a win against Burnley can be considered a foregone conclusion.
While the fact that Tottenham are not in a direct top four battle, means that this game presents the perfect opportunity to rest players who not only gave their all on Wednesday, but will now be dreaming of playing in the Champions League final on June 1st.
It could even be that Harry Kane is fit to return for the Madrid showpiece and the club’s medical staff will be doing their upmost for his dream to become a reality. However, with his fitness still in the balance, any final day runout is not something that can be considered.
In terms of Tottenham’s attacking options, the absence of Hueng min-Son through suspension will be a blow, but it seems as if the club have a new hero now and one that they hope will provide even more goals come this Sunday.