Spurs v AC Milan – Player Ratings

A look back to the 0-0 draw that saw us progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League at the first attempt and how the players did.

Heurelho Gomes – 5 – Gave the fans kittens with repetitive poor distribution. Even the saves he did have to make were often pushed back into the danger zone for a few defensive squirmings. Not sure what’s happening with him, but his form has gone south recently.

Vedran Corluka – 7 – Solid as ever. Not much got past him and had some good link-up play going forward. Keeps getting into positions to cross, but refuses to. Needs to learn that particular skill if he is to fend off next season’s challenge from Kyle Walker.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto – 7 – Did a good job, covering the defence well and making some important clearances. Didn’t get forward and over-lap Pienaar enough, but this was probably due to instructions to stay back. One of his better defensive performances in a Spurs shirt.

Michael Dawson – 8 – A rock. Headed everything and didn’t give Zlatan Ibrahimovic a clear sight on goal all game. Superb tackle early on in the game to deny the Swede a one-on-one with Gomes.

William Gallas – 8 – See Dawson. Assured confidence and experience meant that despite superior possession, Milan didn’t threaten the goal too much. Made a superb clearance off the line to keep the scores level in the first half.

Aaron Lennon – 8 – One of the few attacking bright lights in this display. His pace caused Milan some real problems and put in a few decent crosses.

Steven Pienaar – 6 – Some neat touches, but never looked a threat. You have to feel that once Bale is fit again, he will be the man to give way, as his Spurs career has yet to really take off.

Sandro – 9 – Wow. Just wow. Unconvincing in the early months of his Spurs career, we are really starting to see the shoots of a fantastic player. He tackled everything and stayed true to his position all game, only leaving it to make some blistering runs forward. What an engine, and what a player we could have on our hands. Only failure to win the game itself prevents a ten from being awarded.

Luka Modric – 6 – An understated and quiet game from the diminutive Croatian. Often sloppy in possession and just wasn’t as dynamic as we’re used to. Still linked up well at some points, but a quiet game for him.

Rafael Van Der Vaart – 6 – Didn’t look fit, quite simply. A little bit off the pace, which meant he wasn’t as quick getting away a couple of shots away. Should probably have done better with his chance in the first minute, but toe-poked wide.

Peter Crouch – 5 – After being such a threat in the first leg, Milan figured him out and ensured he was nothing of the sort here. Missed a big chance with his head in the second half and kept giving away free-kicks. Stayed on the pitch far too long, as his game clearly wasn’t working.

SUBS:

Gareth Bale – 6 – Clearly still hampered by his injury, he wasn’t at his bombarding best. But just his presence on the field ensured that Ignazio Abate didn’t get forward as much as he had been, to good effect.

Jermaine Jenas – 6 – Showed some neat touches and a bit of composure in the midfield. Clearly brought on as a more defensively responsible midfielder to Pienaar, he did just that, sticking with Sandro to stop the Milan breakthrough.

Roman Pavlyuchenko – 6 – Not given long enough to make his impact and showed why as his running and chasing just made life difficult for the Milan defence, who had had a comfortable run until that point with the more static Crouch.

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