Tottenham Hotspur take on Europe
Looking at Tottenham’s performances so far in the Champions League, you'd never guess that this is the North London club’s first foray into the European competition. Last season, Spurs managed to edge out Manchester City in the race to finish fourth and
earned themselves a spot in Europe’s most prestigious club competition. Few thought they had a chance to even make it through the group stages, particularly after they were drawn in the same group as the likes of Inter Milan, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Twente-c39233 and Werder Bremen.
However, Spurs have silenced their critics by not only qualifying for the round of 16, but also managing to top their group. It’s a remarkable achievement for a club which was facing relegation just a few seasons ago. Tottenham’s biggest strength is their
bravery. Spurs are never content on sitting back in defence, even if they have the lead. Harry Redknapp has fashioned his young guns into an attacking team that is always looking to have a go at the opposition. However, Spurs' bravery can also lead to their
downfall.
Tottenham’s loss to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Inter-c39567 at the San Siro - their only defeat in the group stages - perfectly highlights both their strengths and their weaknesses. They were looking to score goals from the get-go and were repeatedly caught on the counter attack by Inter.
Tottenham’s tactics did pay off in the second half when they scored 3 goals in quick succession, but it was a case of too little too late as they lost 4-3 on the night. However, the 4 goals conceded can not be attributed solely to their attacking mentality.
There are also severe deficiencies in defence. In six games played in the Champions League, Spurs have conceded an astonishing 11 goals. In the group stages, it might not matter. But in the knockout phases, conceding a goal at home has a big impact on the
tie.
Spurs also lack depth in their squad. Granted, their pool of performing players is doing a fantastic job. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gareth-Bale-c14422 has been a revelation this season, and Rafael Van der Vaart is using his past Champions League experience to good effect. But Harry Redknapp
has precious little options on the bench. When playing in both the Barclays Premier League and the Champions league, this could prove to be a major stumbling block. The Tottenham manager will no doubt use the January transfer window to reinforce his team and
prepare for the challenges Spurs face in the coming year. With an unpredictable season in the Barclays Premier League to deal with as well as a tough tie against 7 time Champions League winners A.C Milan, Tottenham have a tough few months ahead of them. This
is the time for Spurs to prove that they have the skill, and more importantly, the will, to compete at the highest level in Europe.
The first leg of the Champions League round of 16 begins on the 15th of February.
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