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· Preview of the away match played on 15.02.11
· A.C. Milan 0 Spurs 1 - Match Report - 15.02.11
· See the current injury list for all Premiership Teams
· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats
Spurs record in Europe:-
U.E.F.A Champions League
P W D L F - A
9 5 2 2 25 -14
European Cup
P W D L F - A
8 4 1 3 21 - 13
(Semi-Finalists 1962)
European Cup Winners Cup
P W D L F - A
33 20 5 8 65 - 34
(Winners 1963)
UEFA Cup
P W D L F - A
85 51 20 15 182-71
(Winners 1972, 1984
Finalists 1974)
Total
P W D L F - A
135 80 28 27 291-129
Champions League Group A
P W D L F-A GD PTS
1.Spurs 6 3 2 1 18-11 7 11
2.Inter Milan 6 3 1 2 12-11 1 10
3.Fc Twente 6 1 3 2 9-11 -2 6
4.SV Werder Bremen 6 1 2 3 6-12 -6 5
Champions League Group G
P W D L F-A GD PTS
1. Real Madrid 6 5 1 0 15-2 13 16
2. AC Milan 6 2 2 2 7-7 0 8
3. Ajax 6 2 1 3 6-10 -4 7
4. Auxerre 6 1 0 5 3-12 -9 3
Make it another Glory Night, Spurs!
Those of us lucky enough to have been at the San Siro three weeks ago (and there were some 5,000 of us!) consider that we saw one of the greatest away European nights in Spurs history, as the Italian League leaders were put to the sword by a great first half team performance and a captivating late goal by Peter Crouch, following Aaron Lennon's great run from his own half. As we all know, the game is only half over, and we need another White Hart Lane Glory Night tomorrow!
Spurs' only previous competitive games against AC Milan came in the two legged semi-final of the inaugural season of the UEFA Cup in 1971-72. Those were Glory Nights too. It was the season featured in Hunter Davis's book "The Glory Game", and a tie written about by many of the great Spurs names associated with the tie. Bill Nicholson wrote about it in "Glory, Glory. My life with Spurs" Captain Alan Mullery wrote in "Alan Mullery: The Autobiography". Martin Chivers recently offered "Big chiv: My goals in life", and Steve Perryman has spoken often about one of his greatest personal memories of a European night with Spurs.
The brief facts are that Alan Mullery was recalled from a loan at Fulham to play in the semi-final, and also to Captain the Spurs side. The first leg was played in front of 42,000 roaring fans at White Hart Lane, and Steve Perryman scored two fine goals with shots from outside the area to give us a 2-1 lead to take to Milan. Benetti scored for AC Milan. It is sad to note that the Spurs side included three names who have already been taken from us - Cyril Knowles, Ralph Coates and substitute Jimmy Neighbour. Carlo Cudicini's Dad, Fabio, was in goal for Milan.
Now I thought that the atmosphere in the San Siro on February 15th was intimidating, but it must have been as nothing compared with the hositility that Spurs faced on 19th April, 1972. The Spurs coach was subjected to missiles such as bricks and bottles. The players were spat at, and having held out for a 1-1 draw and an aggregate win the referee held the Spurs players in the centre circle for 15 minutes to allow the home fans to disperse. I say "held out", but Mullery had scored from a Chivers knock back from 25 yards to give Spurs a two goal lead in the tie, and were pegged back by a penalty with half an hour to go. Maybe the Milan fans were upset because Spurs had been given the use of Inter's training facilities near Lake Como. Bill Nicholson was renowned as a hard task-master but apparently he had a case or two of bubbly waiting for the players when they got back to their rather isolated hotel. Both Chivers and Mullery were to be heroes in Spurs' win against Wolves in the 1972 Final, which was also over two legs. We won 2-1 at Molineux with two goals by Chivers, and drew the home game, when Mullers scored the vital goal in his last ever Spurs game. You can expect both to be present tomorrow night, and to feature in the souvenir programme.
It's strange how nearly 40 years of history can draw the same three teams together again, as we play tomorrow's game after a match against Wolves.
Despite our need to re-gain a place in the top four to qualify for next year's Champions Leage, there is no doubt that throughout the season Spurs have prioritised the actual Champions League matches. That policy has clearly succeeded with some fine home victories, featuring plenty of goals (14), capped by that marvellous win in the San Siro on a night when Gattuso and Flamini made the headlines for the wrong reasons. Milan have plenty to fear about this trip to Tottenham.
Gattuso won't be here of course, but Flamini will, and he will be subjected to more hostility than he ever faced as an Arsenal player. He might want to stay clear of that touchline! There has even been a suggestion that Vedran Corluka, Flamini's victim in Milan, might be fit for this game!
Milan are still clear leaders of Serie A, and have won all three of their games since losing to Spurs. However, they are likely to have a makeshift midfield, due to suspensions, injury and ineligibility. Kevin-Prince Boateng was quite desperate to make this one, but has fallen injured again, and the veteran Clarence Seedorf, who was substituted at half-time in the San Siro, may be required. That is not to under-estimate the task we face, because they will still have the free-scoring Ibrahimovic up front along with Robinho. Pato missed the week-end game with a fever, and may struggle for fitness here.
Spurs should have pace on both flanks in the shape of Lennon and Bale, both of whom can strongly support their respective full backs. Mind you, Milan didn't use a lot of width at home and like to play more direct football through the middle. Who will get the nod to play next to Modric? Palacios is standing by, but Sandro is playing well enough and has demonstrated the confidence to do the job. I hope he keeps his place.
It's a night we've all been looking forward to. After all, we haven't been at home since early February. I feel confident that Spurs will succeed, and that we will have at least one more Glory Night to come at The Lane in April in the Champions League quarter-finals!
COME ON YOU SPURS!
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