Morning folks!
Last night's game was...interesting. It was the type of game that will have left neutrals everywhere thinking, Christ on a bicycle, what the Teemu Tainio was that!? Not Spurs fans though, we know exactly what that was. It was tip top typical Tottenham. Doesn't matter who the manager is, or who the players are, only Spurs could turn a game that should have been a simple formality into one of the dramas of the season. It's kind of why we love our lilywhites, and it's kind of why we get so frustrated with them.
Inter have been plagued with injuries recently and are losing ground in their scrap for a place in next year's Champions League. As a result, their focus has moved away from the Europa League. This was obvious in the first leg when they showed a complete lack of interest, and are boys to ripped them apart with ease. Personally, I felt that they would have even less interest in this 2nd leg. Already three goals down, another league defeat at the weekend, I thought their heads would be somewhere else, and we would just see out the 90 minutes at walking pace. Boy did I call that wrong!
A bit like the night before, when Ars*nal were knocked out of the Champions League, we had to hold off on the Champagne right up until the fat lady sung. We got what we wanted, but not the way we wanted it. Last night, we had a three goal lead to defend. Inter would have to score 3 unanswered goals to take this tie to extra time, and considering how they played last week at the Lane, I don't think anyone thought that was a realistic possibility. I mean, not even the Inter fans believed they had a chance of turning it around. Only 20,000 of them turned up to San Siro last night, despite season ticket holders being offered free tickets! Fortunately for those that did show up, they were playing the world famous Tottenham Hotspur, and in typical Spurs fashion, we were 3-0 down by the 75th minute. And it wouldn't have been a total surprise if the Nerazzuri had gone on to win it normal time.
From the start, our back four looked dodgy, with the honorable exception of Vertonghen. Gallas (who needs to retire as I've mentioned on 454 separate occasions) looked particularly ropy and was lucky not to give away a penalty just 17 minutes in, when he bundled over Cassano in the area. I do have to mention that Cassano could have easily had a shot on goal, instead of falling over like the pathetic weasel he is, but nevertheless it was a foul.
3 minutes later, that same wanker opened the scoring, when he headed home Palacio's cross. Our defence was playing a recklessly high line, and a lack of organisation meant that Inter's forwards were constantly beating the offside trap. In the 25th minute, Cassano played simple ball over the top to Palacio who easily got in behind Gallas and chipped Friedel only to be denied by the crossbar. Inter now had an obvious gameplan. Which is why it was so bizarre that AVB didn't use his half-time team talk to tell the back four to sit deeper. He didn't, and we were punished for it a few minutes into the second period when Can't-be-assed-o played a nice through ball from deep to Palacio, who once again found space in behind and passed the ball into the net to make it 2-0. My foot was firmly planted in the TV at this point.
AVB finally changed things up in the 56th minute, taking off the woeful Defoe and sticking on Holtby. This made little difference, and Inter were still managing to create to chances. On 75 minutes, Cassano put in a weak free-kick that deflected off the wall towards the increasingly-calamitous Gallas who attempted to clear it but mishit it and sent it into his own net. 3-0. F***ing nightmare.
How Cambiasso didn't make it four, I have no idea. Once again, Gallas lost possession, gifting the Argentine a great one on one chance but somehow he pushed it wide. Seriously lucky break. Somehow we made it to extra-time. Weirdly, we started extra-time brighter than Inter, going close on a couple of occasions. And in the 96th minute, we got an away goal that would surely see us through to the next round. Dembele, who was by far our most threatening player, went passed a few defenders and unleashed a bullet from outside the box, only for it to be saved Handanovic, but Adebayor reacted quickly to poke home the rebound. YES, F***ING YES! Adebayor was lackluster as usual up to this point, but perhaps his goal was the best possible reaction to the disgusting racist abuse he was getting from some sections of the Inter crowd.
Anyway, wild celebrations from yours truly, but incredibly it wasn't over yet. Alvarez headed in a Cassano cross with 10 minutes to go of extra-time just to let us shit ourselves for a few more minutes. Inter couldn't grab another though and so, in typical Spurs style, we were through to the quarter-finals.
After the game, AVB admitted how close we came to a humiliating exit, but he also made sure to highlight to the racist chanting directed at Adebayor from some scumbag Inter fans. He said,
"It was very, very easy to hear the chanting so I'm sure UEFA will act on it. It's very difficult for Inter Milan because it's happened before. It doesn't mar the game but it's something that should not have happened."
No player ratings this time, it'd be too depressing. Dembele, Vertonghen and Friedel were good, everyone else was shite. Lennon immediately made a difference when he came on for the very sub-par Livermore on 70 mins.
PS. People are bound to highlight this performance as proof that we're a one-man team. However, as much as we missed Bale, we suffered mainly because of poor tactical decisions on the nights, and a very weak back four. I think Dawson/Caulker would have made as big a difference as Gareth on the night. don't get me wrong though, I'll be relieved to see him line out on Sunday!
The draw for the quarter-finals of the Europa League takes place this morning. The 8 teams remaining are:
Basle
Benfica
Chelsea
Fenerbahce
Lazio
Newcastle United
Rubin Kazan
Tottenham Hotspur
The first leg will take place on 4th April with the second leg on the 11th.
COYS!
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