AC Milan’s Champions League credentials had been slightly examined by means of Tottenham because the seven-time winners complicated to the quarterfinals.
The Italian champions, on the other hand, nonetheless have a possibility of profitable membership football’s largest prize for the primary time since 2007, whilst Spurs’ 15-year look ahead to a trophy is going on.
A goalless draw in opposition to 10-man Tottenham on Wednesday was once sufficient to protected a 1–0 combination win within the spherical of 16, with Brahim Diaz’ first-leg strike decisive.
Even the go back of supervisor Antonio Conte may just now not encourage a comeback from the London membership, whose best possible probability got here within the 94th minute when Harry Kane’s header was once driven clear of the road by means of Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
“That is the third game in a row that we were not able to score,” Conte stated. “I feel we will be able to do a lot better offensively. I discuss the entire workforce now not handiest those that play within the entrance half of. We can do a lot better.”
Milan was once allowed to cruise throughout the recreation on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which noticed Cristian Romero despatched off in the second one half of.
Kane’s effort was once the nearest the house workforce got here to leveling the ranking on combination — prior to Milan exchange Divock Origi hit the submit in a frantic end.
“For sure in our mind it was to put pressure on with intensity but in the first half we found it difficult offensively,” Conte stated. “We felt a bit of pressure. I think they need to play regularly this type of game to try to improve.”
Conte was once again at the sidelines for Tottenham after spending two-and-a-half weeks in Turin getting better from gallbladder surgical treatment.
But the Italian supervisor may just handiest watch as his workforce failed to wreck down Milan, that means Spurs are nonetheless looking ahead to a primary main piece of silverware since profitable the League Cup in 2008.
Tottenham is now left to fight for a spot within the Premier League most sensible 4, which would offer a path again into the Champions League. Conte’s long term can also be the topic of scrutiny amid ongoing hypothesis about whether or not he’s going to stay on the membership past the top of the season.
Milan, in the meantime, can dream of an 8th name in Europe’s elite membership pageant.
Only Real Madrid, with 14 titles, has been topped European champion on extra events than Milan.
Few be expecting Stefano Pioli’s workforce to wreck its drought within the pageant this season, nevertheless it heads into the remaining 8 after a defensively resolute efficiency subdued a Tottenham assault that was once in need of concepts.
While the end was once exciting, the remainder of the sport had equipped few possibilities for both sides.
Tottenham had long past into the sport at the again of bruising losses to second-division Sheffield United within the FA Cup and Wolverhampton within the Premier League.
While Conte’s go back must have equipped a spice up, there was once little signal of it as Spurs slightly Milan within the first half of.
A deflected go from Kane that Maignan needed to block at his close to submit was once the house workforce’s best possible probability prior to the spoil.
Conte had let his personal frustrations boil over when receiving a yellow card for remonstrating a reserving for Clement Lenglet within the first half of, in a while after Romero had won his first warning.
Tottenham’s depth advanced in the second one half of, however Diaz threatened to increase Milan’s lead when forcing Fraser Forster to avoid wasting together with his legs in a while after the restart.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg was once then denied by means of Maignan after a riding run into the field.
Spurs persevered to battle to create possibilities and their process was once made much more tough when Romero fouled Theo Hernandez and was once despatched off for a moment yellow card within the 78th.
With only one function setting apart the groups there was once at all times the danger of past due drama.
Kane got here just about offering it together with his robust header that Maignan driven off the road.