Fernando Llorente believes the referee was right to award his goal against Manchester City on Wednesday night.
The striker scored Tottenham’s third goal to send the visitors through to the Champions League semi-finals.
The ball appeared to brush off Llorente’s arm before hitting his hip and finding its way into the back of the net.
A lengthy VAR check ensued but the referee eventually awarded the goal, and Llorente thinks the man in charge made the right decision.
“I feel very good, it’s unbelievable what you feel in that moment,” Llorente said (via Sky Sports).
“It was a little bit difficult when the referee was watching the goal, but I think it was a goal. I am very happy to help the team.
“It’s a dream. It’s an unbelievable team and group, and I believe in all the team. I believe we can make history this year. This is our moment.”
Llorente came on as a substitute towards the end of the first half following an injury to Moussa Sissoko.
The Spaniard hardly affected the game but his goal turned out to be the decisive moment – we gave him a 6/10 in our player ratings, which you can read here.
There was more VAR drama at the death when Raheem Sterling’s late strike was ruled out for offside after huge celebrations from the City players, staff and fans.
It’s a night that won’t be forgotten any time soon.
Come On Ye Spurs.
This is D year of D Cockeral.
D cock Crows..
We R marchin…TO BE CHAMPIONS
ONE 4 ALL…ALL 4 ONE.
VAR is surely there to overturn obvious errors or confirm field decisions made. It was obvious the late Sterling goal was offside, so the goal decision had to be overturned. It was NOT obvious that the ball touched Llorente’s hand, so therefore the decision had to stand. You cannot overturn a ‘given’ goal on the basis of speculation and opinion, over what all the officials, on and off field, saw.
This was one of Spurs’ greatest Glory Nights. The first time we’d made it to the SFs of Europe’s top competition since 1962, where we narrowly missed out to the great Benfica (who went on to win it).
And we did it without key injured players! A word about Wanyama. So many (including me) had written him off as a past his sell-by-date DM. And yet, with no other central midfielders around him (Winks, Dier, Sissoko for half the game, and Dembele, who left 6 months too early) he stood among the defenders like Horatius at the Bridge, while helping to propel forward the occasional Spurs’ counters. Alli and Eriksen weren’t in their optimum field positions but they too fought manfully. It’s hard to play at any level with a broken hand/wrist, and I know that personally from my own far lower level of football back in the 1970s. And Eriksen should be so relieved over those final few seconds, that he should perhaps sign his new contract in gratitude alone! We may have lost our shape and tactics in that game, due to injuries, players playing out of position, and, not least, the constant waves of light blue attacks, but we fought like a band of brothers, heroes all!!
The new stadium! The Glory of the CL semis! It seems that, finally, Gods from afar are looking graciously on our wonderful club! But on Saturday, it’s ‘once more unto the breach dear friends, once more ..’, and the fight for the insurance of top four.
Great post, Mr Walter’s! !