Tonight’s Champions League preview: Tottenham v AC Milan

A quick look at the history books should give Tottenham plenty of hope against AC Milan tonight – they have never lost to the Italians over two legs.

Admittedly they have not met very often but Spurs have a 100 per cent record, with 2011’s last-16 tie fairly fresh in the memory.

Whereas they need to turn the tie around this time, trailing to Brahim Diaz’s first-leg goal at the San Siro, they did the hard part first 12 years ago when they won an ill-tempered affair 1-0 in Milan.

Tottenham were shorn of star men like Gareth Bale and Ledley King that night but still overcame Thiago Silva, Clarence Seedorf, Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic before finishing the job with a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane.

That first leg for Harry Redknapp’s men is at least as well remembered for a touchline clash between hot-headed Milan captain Gennaro Gattuso and legendary hardman Joe Jordan – once of Milan but by this stage pushing 60 and Redknapp’s assistant boss.

Images of Gattuso grabbing Jordan by the throat are burned into many a north London memory.

Graeme Souness said in his role as TV pundit ‘The General’ had failed to do his homework in clashing with his fellow Scot. Gattuso even went back for seconds at the final whistle – apparently attempting a headbutt.

All pretty unsavoury but, let’s be honest, great fun to many watching. Gattuso later apologised and spoke of his ‘shame’ – while Jordan bears no grudge – but the Italian claimed it was a factor in him not getting the Spurs manager’s job a couple of years ago.

Whether it’s more blood and guts or something more serene, Tottenham will hope another Peter Crouch moment – the big man scored the winner – rather than touchline shenanigans, lies in store tonight.

For the record, the only other time these clubs met in Europe, Steve Perryman got a couple in a home win and Alan Mullery netted in the away draw as Spurs triumphed in a semi-final on their way to lifting the Uefa Cup in 1972.

Good omens? Who knows. Good memories for Tottenham? Definitely.

Article source: https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/07/tonights-champions-league-preview-tottenham-v-ac-milan-18401114/