Peter Crouch sees no reason why Spurs cannot bring Champions League glory to White Hart Lane this season.
Striker says Tottenham have nothing to fear after passing Milan test
Peter Crouch sees no reason why Tottenham cannot bring UEFA Champions League glory to White Hart Lane this season.
Crouch was instrumental in Spurs' 1-0 victory at AC Milan in the last 16 of the tournament on Tuesday night, firing home an 80th-minute winner to put his side in a strong position heading into the second leg at the Lane on March 9th.
That triumph came after an impressive 3-1 home win over Milan's fierce local rivals and reigning European champions Inter in the group stages, as well as a remarkable comeback in their 4-3 defeat to the Nerazzurri at the San Siro.
Success
Tuesday's success over Milan was accomplished without star winger Gareth Bale, the hat-trick hero at the Giuseppe Meazza back in October, and with only a second-half substitute appearance from midfielder Luka Modric, who made the bench after recovering from injury.
Crouch feels if Tottenham, making their Champions League debut this season, can cause upset over seven-time European Cup winners without that key duo in the starting XI, they should have nothing to fear as the campaign gathers pace.
"Gareth and Modric are top, top players and if we can come to the San Siro and win without them, then there's probably no limit to what we can achieve," Crouch told the
Daily Star.
"Although it's our first time in the tournament, I don't think we have anyone to fear. We've had a great comeback here last time against Inter, and we beat Inter at home.
"Now we have come away from home - which was a fantastic test for us - and won in Milan, hopefully people will start believing that we can do something in this competition."
The England striker, who took his European goal tally to seven in eight games on Tuesday, is feeling confident ahead of the second leg in north London.
He added: "It's not over because Milan are a great side. With their forwards, I think they can go anywhere and score goals.
"But we've put ourselves in such a good position now that we'd be very disappointed if we didn't go through. I think it will be an open game at The Lane. We'll attack."
Crucial
Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes, who also played a key role against Milan, denying Mario Yepes with two crucial saves, reached the Champions League semi-finals with former club PSV in 2005.
And the Brazilian is confident Tottenham are capable of going further than the Dutch giants, adding: "Now we can go much better than PSV.
"We have a better squad than they had. Maybe now we are unstoppable."
