Live Soccer TV explained it already. Real Madrid vs Tottenham Hotspur doesn’t put Spurs as underdogs or Real Madrid as favourites – and Harry Redknapp supports this opinion.
When you have players such as Modric, Aaron Lennon and ex-Real Madrid star Rafael van der Vaart in your team, would it make sense to entertain too much fear ahead of any big game? This group of names have contributed in making Tottenham Hotspur what they are now: potential UEFA Champions League semi-final spot hunters in their first ever tournament appearance.
But there is much more job left out there just as much as the possibility of receiving a slap in the face by Spanish giants Real Madrid on Tuesday night exists. The wisest thing for Tottenham Hotspur to do, perhaps, is to concentrate on their potentialities and their needs.
At the moment, for example, they have a serious goal drought issue to solve at all cost. Coach Harry Redknapp will be hoping for Gareth Bale, Peter Crouch and the rest of Spurs’ attacking players to make things right on Real Madrid’s pitch – but this may not necessarily be an easy thing to do.
The fact is that the North-Londoners have stumbled to goalless draws in their past three matches in all competitions. In the UEFA Champions League against AC Milan, the last time out, the 0-0 score line was enough for Tottenham to historically progress into the quarter-finals. But tonight, they may accept such a result (should it occur) with more obligation than satisfaction since it will then force them to defeat Real Madrid at White Hart Lane in the second leg.
Another negative fact is that Spurs haven’t won a single match since upsetting AC Milan 1-0 at the San Siro on February 15. Statistics expose these following results which have actually lowered their chances of reaching the UEFA Champions League zone in the English Premier League:
February 15, 2011: AC Milan 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs win)
February 22, 2011: Blackpool 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs lose)
March 6, 2011: Wolves 3-3 Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs draw)
March 9, 2011: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 AC Milan (Spurs draw)
March 19, 2011: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 West Ham United (Spurs draw)
April 2, 2011: Wigan Athletic 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs draw)
How did Tottenham Hotspur go a full month-and-a-half without winning in all competitions? Surely, it will be a great achievement for the Lilywhites to get back to winning ways by triumphing at the Santiago Bernabeu against nine-time UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid.
Considering the enormous amount of pressure that surrounds Los Blancos in Europe and following the end of their perfect home record in all competitions this season, Tottenham Hotspur may have a good reason to be upbeat ahead of tonight’s clash.
“I don't feel any pressure,” Harry Redknapp claimed, according to ESPN Soccernet, as the debutants stand an opportunity of making yet another giant-killing.
Italy’s Internazionale and AC Milan are the two names on that list. And will Real Madrid follow?
“No-one expected us to be here at the start of the season. Now we have a big chance of winning. We’re not just coming here [at the Santiago Bernabeu in Spain] to turn up. We want to keep progressing because the dream is still there for us.
“We have to make that dream come true. We want to go all the way, if we can. We know how difficult it is going to be, but there is still a chance and we have to take it.”
Harry Redknapp’s mindset seems to be perfect. Now let’s see how his boys will work it out on the field of play tonight.
But there is much more job left out there just as much as the possibility of receiving a slap in the face by Spanish giants Real Madrid on Tuesday night exists. The wisest thing for Tottenham Hotspur to do, perhaps, is to concentrate on their potentialities and their needs.
At the moment, for example, they have a serious goal drought issue to solve at all cost. Coach Harry Redknapp will be hoping for Gareth Bale, Peter Crouch and the rest of Spurs’ attacking players to make things right on Real Madrid’s pitch – but this may not necessarily be an easy thing to do.
The fact is that the North-Londoners have stumbled to goalless draws in their past three matches in all competitions. In the UEFA Champions League against AC Milan, the last time out, the 0-0 score line was enough for Tottenham to historically progress into the quarter-finals. But tonight, they may accept such a result (should it occur) with more obligation than satisfaction since it will then force them to defeat Real Madrid at White Hart Lane in the second leg.
Another negative fact is that Spurs haven’t won a single match since upsetting AC Milan 1-0 at the San Siro on February 15. Statistics expose these following results which have actually lowered their chances of reaching the UEFA Champions League zone in the English Premier League:
February 15, 2011: AC Milan 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs win)
February 22, 2011: Blackpool 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs lose)
March 6, 2011: Wolves 3-3 Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs draw)
March 9, 2011: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 AC Milan (Spurs draw)
March 19, 2011: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 West Ham United (Spurs draw)
April 2, 2011: Wigan Athletic 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs draw)
How did Tottenham Hotspur go a full month-and-a-half without winning in all competitions? Surely, it will be a great achievement for the Lilywhites to get back to winning ways by triumphing at the Santiago Bernabeu against nine-time UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid.
Considering the enormous amount of pressure that surrounds Los Blancos in Europe and following the end of their perfect home record in all competitions this season, Tottenham Hotspur may have a good reason to be upbeat ahead of tonight’s clash.
“I don't feel any pressure,” Harry Redknapp claimed, according to ESPN Soccernet, as the debutants stand an opportunity of making yet another giant-killing.
Italy’s Internazionale and AC Milan are the two names on that list. And will Real Madrid follow?
“No-one expected us to be here at the start of the season. Now we have a big chance of winning. We’re not just coming here [at the Santiago Bernabeu in Spain] to turn up. We want to keep progressing because the dream is still there for us.
“We have to make that dream come true. We want to go all the way, if we can. We know how difficult it is going to be, but there is still a chance and we have to take it.”
Harry Redknapp’s mindset seems to be perfect. Now let’s see how his boys will work it out on the field of play tonight.
