It wasn’t the result that everyone expected but the outcome was the one that everyone wanted! Harry Redknapp had promised attack, but for most of the game it was solid defence and we stood firm at the right time.
“It was always going to be nervy night,” Redknapp said.
“If you think you are going to smash AC Milan out of sight then obviously you haven’t been watching football over the last few years.
“We defended for our lives and the keeper did well for us too.”
When asked how far this side can go in the competition, Harry was clearly concerned about drawing Barcelona in the next round.
“I don’t know how far we can go. I thought it was an amazing performance from Barcelona to beat a team who are probably the best passing team in our league.
“To make them look so ordinary was amazing. It will be difficult for anyone to beat Barcelona. They are an amazing team, but who knows.
“We are in the last eight and we have done well to get where we are and we want to stay in this competition and go as far as we can.”
Alongside Barcelona, Schalke 04 and Shakhtar Donetsk join us in the quarter finals with the second wave of last-16 games coming next week. It was a nervous time, but a great night to be a Spurs fan.
Barsa can accelerate & slow the pace of a game just the way AC did against us. Their anticipatory passes & combined skills are so well read by their players that these are done almost blindfoldedly.
This is what Spurs need to practice & mastermind. We have a few players that have pace which can carry them for 90 min – viz Bale, Sandro & Lennon. Others need to be pulled in to mould into this mode of play.