On this Day - remembering Tottenham's famous Ajax comeback, a thrilling peak of the Mauricio Pochettino era

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Mauricio Pochettino had signalled the beginning of the end the night before.

The Argentine often spoke last season of the end of a chapter for the Tottenham squad he had overseen for five years, and what a way it would be to close out that story by lifting the Champions League. “It should be fantastic, no?” Pochettino said. “Close the five-year chapter and go home.”

Go home? Surely that was a joke. Pochettino hadn't just suggested he could walk at the end of the season? “It’s not a joke. Why?” he said. “To win the Champions League in this circumstance, in this season – maybe I need to think a little bit to do something different in the future. Because to repeat this miracle, you know … But for sure, I go home. Whatever happens [in the semi-final second leg], I go home.”

It was an alarming line on the eve of his biggest game as a manager, arguably Tottenham's biggest as a club, and one that would go on to define his time as Tottenham manager.

Spurs had already endured one hell of a ride to reach this stage, perhaps explaining a weary 1-0 home loss in the first leg of the semi-final.

Having taken just one point from their first three group stage games, Spurs regrouped and beat both PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan before, with an 85th-minute equaliser from Lucas Moura, a draw at Barcelona saw them through the group by the skin of their teeth.

Borussia Dortmund were brushed aside in the first knockout stage, before a rollercoaster, VAR-assisted and scarcely believable two legs against Manchester City in the quarter-finals followed. Surely the last-gasp drama of the Etihad could not be surpassed?

Spurs faced an electric Ajax side, giant-killers who - thanks to the brilliance of homegrown gems in Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong - had already seen off Juventus and become the first team to eliminate holders Real Madrid from the competition in four years.

Facing a one-goal first-leg deficit, a fast start would be needed to dampen the enthusiasm inside the Johan Cryuff Arena, gain a foothold and start to play with some freedom. Spurs couldn't have got off to a worse start.

Each and every pundit, spectator and journalist in the stands that night called the tie over after De Ligt and Hakim Ziyech struck before half-time. Spurs, after the group stage resurgence, thumping of Dortmund and sending Pep Guardiola to his knees, were going out with a whimper.

Bob Marley's Three Little Birds rang around the ground during the break, which would have been heard in the away dressing room if not for the almighty rollicking injured talisman Harry Kane was delivering to his team-mates.

“He asked if we wanted our season to end like this and once Harry goes, he goes and he’s very passionate," Danny Rose later revealed. “It’s a great sight to see because it shows he cares. He’s got all these goals and accolades but is never satisfied.

“He mentioned that we were showing Frenkie de Jong too much respect and said ‘who’s the one that’s going to get around him and show him that he’s in for a game?'.”

Kane's words fresh in their ears, Spurs emerged to set things straight. They had come from behind all season, now they were out to do it again. It took just 10 minutes for Spurs to show more life, scything through their hosts with Dele Alli before Lucas delivered the first of three historic blows

The second wouldn't take long, The Brazilian pouncing on a mistake from goalkeeper Andre Onana and hesitation from Lasse Shone to shimmy past De Jong and, with his back to goal, found the corner of the net. Remarkable finish. Nerves and anger spread at speed through the stadium, pockets of travelling fans who had found their way into the home end started to come to life, beer rained down on them - and a few reporters - from the irritated Ajax supporters.

"Something strange is happening, something weird is going on," commented Jermaine Jenas, on duty for BT Sport that night.

With Spurs energised and believing once more, madness ensued. Ziyech, so dangerous throughout, rattled the post of Hugo Lloris's goal before, at the other end, Jan Vertonghen found the crossbar with a header. There would be more chances for Ajax, still ahead on aggregate but now visibly nervous, as Ziyech forced a fine save and Dusan Tadic fired wide. Half an hour flew by and we were into stoppage time, four further minutes ticked by... and another 50 seconds.

Then it came, the moment that will live in the memory forever. One last push up field saw Moussa Sissoko send a Hail Mary to Fernando Llorente on the edge of the area, who nodded down to Dele Alli, one step to his left to create space and one touch to find Lucas darting into the area. Dele's flick seemed to stop time inside the stadium, perfectly weighted as Lucas connected with the ball exactly as the five added minutes elapsed. With one weary flick of his boot, Lucas had flipped two worlds upside down.

Those in red and white collapsed, mortified, as the English contingent erupted. Jenas's commentary turned to stunned sobbing, the beer raining down became a waterfall. Kane's ankle was healed as he raced across to celebrate and Pochettino, halfway onto the pitch himself, crumpled into an emotional heap surrounded by substitutes and coaching staff darting in each and every direction around him, none entirely sure what to do.

Club legend Glenn Hoddle, part of the last Spurs team to win European silverware and seven months on from a heart attack, reflected poignantly: "I'm so glad I'm still around to see this."

The travelling fans continued to sing, Spurs players saluted them and Rose enjoyed a celebratory beer on the pitch. The chapter didn't end how Pochettino had wanted, but that night will endure far longer than anything which followed. What a ride.

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