Today’s back pages: dizzy Spurs left on the ropes by Ajax’s total football

Tottenham Hotspur were left battered and bruised after losing 1-0 at home against Ajax in the Uefa Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday night.

Donny van de Beek scored the winning goal for Ajax, who are now favourites to meet Barcelona or Liverpool in the final.

Many of today’s back pages focus on the head injury sustained by Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen. The Belgian suffered a clash of heads with team-mate Toby Alderweireld which left him with blood pouring from his nose.

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The Daily Star says Tottenham are “down ’n snout” while the Daily Express reports that the loss gave Spurs a “bloody nose”.

Spurs were “left dizzy”, reads the Daily Mail’s back page, after being given the runaround by the talented Dutch team. The Guardian also praises the spellbinding “total football” on display from Ajax.

‘Rafa must stay’

Meanwhile, in the north east of England The Chronicle has issued a front-page plea to Newcastle United by insisting that “Rafa must stay”.

Toon manager Rafael Benítez is edging towards the end of his contract and the newspaper has launched a petition for the Spaniard to stay.