AC Milan failed to produce the flair that made them seven-times European champions and were eliminated from the Champions League by Tottenham Hotspur after a 0-0 draw put the English side through 1-0 on Wednesday. Spurs advanced to the quarter-finals after another night of unrelenting tension at White Hart Lane and the London club's unlikely adventure among Europe's elite continued.
Milan's big-name players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Alexandre Pato and the evergreen Clarence Seedorf fought non-stop but despite creating the better chances they failed to make the last eight for the fourth successive season. Spurs, who won 1-0 at the San Siro with a late Peter Crouch goal, could not press home their advantage but the Premier League side gave a resolute defensive performance to reach the quarter-finals of Europe's premier competition for the first time since getting to the European Cup semis in 1962.
"It's a fantastic achievement for this club, playing in the Champions League for the first time in our history. To have beaten Inter Milan in the group stage and now AC Milan, well anything else is a bonus now, just being in the Champions League is a bonus," Spurs manager Harry Redknapp told reporters.
"Two years ago no-one would have believed we could do this, that's the improvement we have made." Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said he was "very very disappointed" his side lost. Spurs were the first English team through to the last eight this season following Arsenal's defeat by Barcelona. Chelsea and Manchester United are still in contention for quarter-final places. Milan dominated the first half with Spurs penned in their own half for long periods but were thankful to Gomes and Gallas that they were not trailing at the interval.
Comments
Comments are closed for this article.