Tottenham must do issues the onerous manner in the event that they need to progress within the Champions League after they misplaced 1-0 at AC Milan within the first leg of their last-16 tie.
It was an insipid show at San Siro by Antonio Conte’s facet and so they have been unable to get better from Brahim Diaz’s early opener.
They may have been returning to London with a heavier deficit, with Ivan Perisic having to clear off the road after which Malick Thiaw sending a free header broad because the hosts completed strongly.
Conte’s males, who’ve been chronically inconsistent this season in opposition to a backdrop of accidents to key gamers, must be a lot better within the return leg in three weeks if they’re to have any hope of overturning Milan’s lead.
They have historical past of Champions League comebacks, with their run to the 2019 remaining affected by late twists, although this present crop appear 1,000,000 miles away from that facet underneath Mauricio Pochettino.
Milan, who have been winless in seven video games previous to Friday’s victory over Torino, are likewise a far cry from the outfit that eased to the Serie A title final season however Spurs barely threatened their aim regardless of loads of possession and territorial benefit.
Despite that poor run of kind, the Milan followers wished to indicate simply how a lot they beloved their facet on Valentine’s Day and earlier than kick-off held up tifo indicators saying ‘I’m not dishonest on you’.
And the hosts have been fast to provide their adoring devoted a gift as they went forward with lower than seven minutes on the clock.
Theo Hernandez received the higher of Cristian Romero in an aerial problem on the suitable and noticed his shot saved by Fraser Forster, who then produced an excellent cease to disclaim Diaz from the follow-up. However, the smallest participant on the pitch was capable of nod the second rebound house from point-blank vary.
It was the travelling Tottenham followers who have been left feeling betrayed by an all-too acquainted pedestrian and passive begin from their facet.
They did started to get a foothold within the sport and had quite a few alternatives to check the Milan defence from set-pieces, however a number of corners and free-kicks have been wasted by poor deliveries or defended properly by the hosts.
The majority of the primary half was being performed in Milan’s half however Emerson Royal’s long-distance shot that was safely swallowed up by Ciprian Tatarusanu was Tottenham’s greatest effort.
The second half noticed a resumption of what occurred earlier than the break – Spurs answerable for the sport however missing the standard to threaten a leveller, with extra set-piece deliveries wasted.
There have been some issues on the different finish as Romero was booked for a reckless deal with on Sandro Tonali whereas Eric Dier picked up a yellow card which is able to see him suspended for the second leg.
Spurs couldn’t make any headway and as an alternative it was the hosts who completed the sport on the lookout for a killer second.
Perisic needed to make a last-ditch clearance from Charles De Ketelaere’s goalbound header after which Thiaw was in acres of house from Rafael Leao’s cross however put his header broad from six yards.
Dier had a free header from yet one more nook however made a multitude of it to go away Spurs needing to show the tie round on house soil.