Redknapp lauds 'amazing' Tottenham
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
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Harry Redknapp praised his Tottenham Hotspur FC side's great achievement in reaching the last eight at the expense of AC Milan, whose coach felt his players "couldn't have done more".
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A jubilant Harry Redknapp hailed the endeavour of his Tottenham Hotspur FC players in protecting their one-goal lead from the first leg against AC Milan and earning the London side a place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Redknapp, the first English manager to reach the last eight, said it is a "great achievement", while Massimiliano Allegri felt Milan did not get the rewards their performance deserved.
Harry Redknapp, Tottenham manager
It's a great night for the players and fans. It was hard work out there because they're a good side. You could see why they're a great club with great tradition who've won the Champions League. It showed tonight because they came and played.
We worked our socks off and stayed with them. It's a difficult situation because when you come home and you've got that one-goal lead you try to protect it, but at the same time, it's not like you go for broke. You're always aware that you want to hang on to that lead and it was very difficult.
I enjoyed the occasion but I couldn't say I enjoyed the 90 minutes. You're looking at the clock and wanting the 90 minutes to be up. It's a great achievement for this club to be in the last eight of the Champions League; it's amazing what the players have done. Barcelona are the team you don't want to play at the moment but whatever comes, it's great to be in the last eight.
Massimiliano Allegri, Milan coach
We just lacked that goal because the team played well in a difficult atmosphere. My players all did well but unfortunately we are out. We made mistakes in the first leg on their counterattack with just a few minutes to go. Today my players did all the things they had to do. We missed a forward like Filippo Inzaghi. There were many balls passed into the box and he would have taken advantage of them.
The team did well and I think my players couldn't have done more. We played a good game with a high tempo and good passing, but unfortunately the goal never came. Maybe we could have been more angry in a way, more aggressive, but I'm happy with my players and I'm sorry for them. At least performances like this give us more confidence.
