Zimpapers Logo

the second leg of their Champions League soccer last 16 tie at White Hart Lane tonight.
Redknapp’s side are in pole position to reach the quarter-finals after Peter Crouch’s goal secured a 1-0 win in a tempestuous first leg at the San Siro last month.
In the circumstances it would be easy for Redknapp to employ a low-risk defensive strategy aimed at frustrating Milan, but the Spurs boss is adamant he will stick to the cavalier approach that has already produced several high-scoring wins in the competition.
“I think we’ve got enough to hurt Milan at home. We’ll be positive,” Redknapp said. “We will play an attacking team. We’ll play (Aaron) Lennon and probably Gareth Bale and have a go.”
Redknapp’s commitment to attack is understandable given the wealth of creative talent as his disposal, especially since Wales winger Bale returned from six weeks out with a back injury in Sunday’s 3-3 draw at Wolves.
Dutch playmaker Rafael Van der Vaart could also feature after recovering from a calf injury, but it is the presence of Bale that is most likely to worry Milan.
His virtuoso displays against Inter Milan in the group stage established Bale as one of Europe’s brightest young stars and Redknapp can’t wait to unleash him on the Italian league leaders.
“When Gareth came on and started to run with the ball at Wolves it was exciting. We’ve missed that for the last five or six weeks,” Redknapp said.
“That was his first real exertion for six weeks. He started straight away to run with the ball and, when he does that, he scares people to death.
“He carries the game at the opposition and that makes a massive difference.
“Peter Crouch has had a great European campaign as well. And Van der Vaart has a good chance for Wednesday. I hope he will be fit.”
Massimiliano Allegri’s side have been the most formidable team in Serie A this season, but Italian football is at a low ebb at present and it would be little surprise if Tottenham followed in the footsteps of Arsenal and Manchester United after their English Premier League rivals also dumped out Milan in recent years.
Milan underlined their dominance in Italy with a 1-0 win at Juventus on Sunday, but they will be without several experienced players at White Hart Lane.
Gennaro Gattuso is serving a suspension after being booked in the first leg, although his absence might be a blessing as the veteran midfielder had enraged Tottenham with his astonishing touchline row with Redknapp’s assistant Joe Jordan.
Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini are also sidelined and Allegri will need exceptional performances from Robinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to overturn the deficit.
If Milan are to successfully subdue a sell-out Spurs crowd that is sure to be at fever pitch, Allegri could do with former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini keeping his emotions in check on his return to north London.
Flamini’s ugly first-leg foul left Spurs right-back Vedran Corluka with badly damaged ankle ligaments, but the Frenchman insists he isn’t a dirty player.
“In four years in the English Premier League I’ve never injured an opponent. I was never sent off in England,” he said. I am not a dirty player. I didn’t have a bad intention. I apologised for what I did.
“Unfortunately he got injured but I went to the dressing room and apologised to Vedran personally and he accepted it.”
Allegri remains certain Tottenham are beatable if Milan play at their best and he added: “It must be said that despite playing good football, Tottenham are not among the strongest in Europe.
“But we mustn’t make mistakes against them because they profited with a good counter attack to beat us 1-0.”
Meanwhile, Spanish veteran Raul has warned his Schalke team-mates that Valencia will be ‘more dangerous’ in tonight’s Champions League Last 16 second-leg clash than in the draw in Spain.
The Royal Blues earned a 1-1 draw at Valencia on 15 February in the first leg and Raul says the Spanish side will come out with all guns blazing, especially after their 2-1 win at Mallorca on Saturday in La Liga.
Goals either side of half-time by Valencia’s Pablo Hernandez sealed Valencia’s win which leaves them third in the Spanish league.
Raul netted his 71st European goal in the first-leg and is eager to add to his tally against his compatriots.
“I expect them to be even more dangerous in comparison to the first leg,” the 33-year-old former Real Madrid and Spanish international icon told uefa.com.
“I think they have great players who can play great matches away too.
“Although we have a small advantage going into the second leg, it’s another 90 minutes in which Valencia have the ability to turn things around and score goals here.
“The starting position is good, but dangerous, the 1-1 looks better than it is.
“We need to make sure we take the lead.”
Raul has scored 15 goals, three in the Champions League, since joining the Bundesliga outfit at the start of the season.
He has brought a wealth of experience to Schalke having won the Champions League three times with Real.
With his Dutch strike partner Klaas-Jan Huntelaar out with a knee injury, either Swiss star Mario Gavranovic or Brazil’s Edu will be alongside Raul with a place in the last eight at stake.
Schalke have an enviable European record at home this season and have won all three of their Champions League games at their Veltins Arena.
The Royal Blues have only made the Champions League quarter-finals twice before, but Raul says spirits are high.
“We are full of confidence, it would be a great achievement for Schalke 04 to be among the best eight teams in Europe,” he said.
Despite his advancing years, Raul insists he has plenty more to offer and hopes he can produce the goal which puts the Germans into the last eight.
“Of course I hope I can score more goals, or even just one in the match against Valencia to help the team succeed,” he said. It could be that this is my last match in the Champions League – so many things can happen, and only time will tell.” – AFP.