The Tottenham medical staff has come under fire and attack for the way they handled Jan Vertonghen injury and giving him a green light to continue after a deadly collision with fellow teammate and Ajax goalkeeper.
The defender could hardly stay long in the field, after being allowed back to play, he had actually had to be held up to keep standing but he has since come out saying all is well.
Jan Vertonghen eased fears after sustaining a nasty head injury during Tottenham’s Champions League defeat to Ajax.
The Belgian defender was left bloodied following a sickening clash of heads with team-mate Toby Alderweireld.
Concerns were growing when he returned to the pitch before quickly holding his hand up to signal his semi-final was over.
A groggy-looking Vertonghen then left the field before looking dizzy and disorientated as he required support to make his way to the dressing room.
His condition raised questions as to whether concussion protocols were properly followed what is sure to be a big talking point over the coming days.
But Vertonghen says there’s not too much to be concerned about.
“There is nothing broken, no concussion. I just fainted,” he confirmed after that game.
Boss Mauricio Pochettino couldn’t confirm how long he would be out for, saying: “I don’t know how he is. We are going to assess him in the next few days.”
Tottenham will have it all to do in Amsterdam next week if they are to keep their Champions League dream alive as Ajax claimed a 1-0 win in the semi-final first leg.
Spurs went down to Donny Van De Beek’s first-half goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
This was just their second ever European Cup semi-final, and 57 years since their last one, but they are not out of it as they showed that this excellent Ajax side can be got at, even if they did not force goalkeeper Andre Onana into a meaningful save.
They will have Son Heung-min, and maybe Harry Kane, back for the second leg and they will have no option but to go for it in the Dutch capital.
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.”