Britain's Got Talent

Clarence Seedorf - Goodbye Europe?

Tottenham Hotspur 0 AC Milan 0

There is something about English teams and the omen they are to AC Milan. Maybe it’s the accent, maybe it’s the weather. Maybe it’s not. 3 successive defeats to English oppositions in Europe cry out for a reason. Is it the mentality, is it the pace or is it the physicality of the Poms? I am afraid the answer is yet to be completely revealed.

Spurs are a talented side but definitely not talented enough to oust Milan purely on merit. Unfortunately, they did just that. English clubs’ thunder and lightening style of play often undermines their solidity and organizational ability that isn't often witnessed in the Barclays Premier League. Harry Redknapp showed the world that a team built to attack can defend for 90 minutes against one of the most formidable front lines in Europe and better still get away with a clean sheet. True, Redknapp had lady luck sitting beside him at the Lane. But it wasn’t purely luck.

Of all the players in the Spurs squad, Peter Crouch wouldn’t be the player fancied to trouble Milan’s defense. The big man proved to be a thorn over both legs and won the aerial battle consistently. The second leg proved to be an improvement for Alesandro Nesta and Thiago Silva. The home defeat taught both of them that contending for the lofted ball with Crouch is futile. The alternative would be to back into him and play ‘dirty’ in typical Italian fashion while also winning the free kick. The pair did just that to near perfection in the return leg. Milan’s forwards were very closely marked by William Gallas and Michael Dawson. The latter overshadowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic throughout the game without putting a foot wrong. AC Milan’s front three weren’t given any breathing space and Sandro hounded the visiting midfield ceaselessly. He enjoyed a blinder of a game catching the attention of the Milan scouts. To make matters worse, Milan’s build up play was pedestrian providing Spurs sufficient time to organize themselves and close down spaces. Robinho added another game to his now long list of woeful performances in a Rossoneri jersey. His passing and movement were the highlights of his game in the first half the season but these facets have dramatically disappeared post the winter break. The hefty price tag appears to be the only reason that justifies his place on the first team.

The impotency of Milan’s forwards continued in the second half of the match. Mathieu Flamini didn’t make matters any better for him or the club. His brainless tackles always threatened the visitors to go a man down making him a constant liability. Redknapp unleashed Gareth Bale on the 66’ by bringing off Van Der Vaart. The Welshman didn’t run riot but he definitely reduced Ignazio Abate’s forward runs. Abate stayed back to keep an eye and a foot on Bale thereby eliminating the much needed width he provided in the first half. Max Allegri introduced Luca Antonini on the 69’ which effectively killed the width factor. Alex Merkel and Rodney Strasser were two players thrown into the mix, possibly to acquire some European experience and taste club football at its highest level. When players like Antonini, Merkel and Strasser come on for a club, you just know that club isn’t ready to play in the quarter finals of Europe’s premier club competition. One man played with his heart on his sleeve. He goes by the name of Clarence Seedorf. Many think he played his last game for AC Milan at White Hart Lane on that day. Probably the sight of him crying added fuel to the speculative rumour but that isn’t a farfetched idea. Sitting in front of the defense, he put his soul into every challenge and ran down opponents who are a little more than half his age. Allegri’s men lacked the level of determination and drive that Seedorf played with. Had it been truly present in the hearts of those who came to the Lane needing a win, Milan would be facing Real Madrid in the quarter finals.