Part 2 - Tottenham’s tactical options against A.C Milan
In the center of the park, Redknapp will most likely go with Palacios alongside Huddlestone or Jenas.
With Alessandro Pirlo set to miss the encounter from Milan’s side, Palacios’s main job will be patrol the back four and stop service from coming into Robinho and Ibrahimovic. The key tie in this match is between Assou-Ekotto and Pato.
The Cameroonian left back will be given the responsibility of stopping the Brazilian starlet in his tracks. Ekotto nullified the threat of Luis http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nani-c27299 earlier on in the English Premier League season as Manchester United took on Tottenham at White Hart Lane,
thus he has the capability to step up his game whenever required.
However, the 26 year old full back is also prone to characteristic errors during the match, something that cannot be afforded by Tottenham when they take on the Italian league leaders.
Harry Redknapp’s main selection headache lies in his defensive line up. With injuries to Kaboul, King and Woodgate, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Dawson-c25288 in the center of the park for the London club.
Furthermore, Redknapp has to choose between http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alan-Hutton-c4253 for the right back position.
Both Corluka and Hutton are accomplished full backs but the Croatian might be the more favoured one in Harry’s books due to Hutton’s lack of experience in European football. Whoever gets the nod at the right back position will have to deal with the threat
of Robinho.
The Brazilian forward has been on fire for Milan as he netted two goals in 7 minutes during their latest Serie A encounter against Parma.
Tottenham’s usual goalkeeper Heurelho Gomez will take his place between the sticks for Redknapp’s team.
Gomez has blown hot and cold for Spurs since his move from Dutch football way back in 2009. The Brazilian shot stopper has excellent reflexes but his shot stopping skills fade away in respect to his tendency to lose concentration during key moments in the
match.
An error on Gomez’s part in San Siro has the potential to all but knock Tottenham out of the UEFA Champions League.
The most decisive area of the match between Tottenham and AC Milan will be the midfield area. It will most likely be Ambrosini, Seedorf and Flamini.
Kevin Prince Boteng’s fitness it subject to a late test on Tuesday morning, if he is declared fit then will start in place of Seedorf.
With Pirlo’s creative influence lacking, Tottenham might have the upper hand in this half of the field given their midfield four of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Niko-Kranjcar-c27926.
The most noticeable factor in this matchup is the absence of natural width in Milan’s line up. Ibate and Antonini will provide the former European champions with width thus it will be imperative that Lennon and Kranjcar track back to help out the likes of
Corluka and Ekotto.
Nonetheless, it is bound to be an intriguing matter. With the second leg scheduled to take place at White Hart Lane, Tottenham will look to gain a draw from the encounter at San Siro.
Realistically thinking, A.C Milan needs to benefit from the absence of both Bale and Modric and score a historic win on their home turf as the return of these two stars to Tottenham’s line up will drastically alter the odds once both the teams meet again
in London on 9th of March, 2011.
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