Somehow, Tottenham managed to edge passed AC Milan on Wednesday to progress to the quarter-finals of the European 'Champions' League' competition.
Going into the home leg with a slender one goal lead from the first match in Milan, Spurs were under constant pressure from the Italians but managed to survive, surely against all the odds. AC Milan are comfortably top of the Italian league, the Serie A, ahead of their deadly rivals, Inter Milan, whom Spurs have also beaten in the competition. Allowing that Tottenham are not exatly the best team in England, how have they done it ? What do their victories say about the state of Italian football ? Not only have AC Milan been eliminated from Europe's premiere club football championship, but Roma were also trounced by Shakhtar and Inter Milan are in serious danger, having lost the home leg of their tie with Bayern Munich. There are no Italian sides left in the last 16 of the Europa League, either.
Tottenham's performance was gritty and determined but no one seriously believes they can go on to lift the trophy. What they've achieved so far is beyond the wildest dreams of their long-suffering supporters and does enormous credit to Harry Redknapp; not since the far-off days of Bill Nicholson have Tottenham even been entrants in the European Cup (or Champions' League as it now is) and Redknapp's aim must now be to match Nicholson's achievement in taking the team to the semi-final stage. It is possible, if unlikely but, as a Tottenham supporter since that 1961/2 season, I have my fingers crossed !
For the Italian sides, they must surely be wondering what's going on and 'considering their positions'. A few managers may well be feeling a little uncomfortable and already have other jobs in mind.
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