AC Milan’s Champions League credentials have been barely examined by Tottenham because the seven-time winners superior to the quarterfinals.
The Italian champions, nonetheless, nonetheless have an opportunity of successful membership soccer’s greatest prize for the primary time since 2007, whereas Spurs’ 15-year look forward to a trophy goes on.
A goalless draw in opposition to 10-man Tottenham on Wednesday was sufficient to safe a 1-0 mixture win within the spherical of 16, with Brahim Diaz’ first-leg strike decisive.
Even the return of supervisor Antonio Conte couldn’t encourage a comeback from the London membership, whose greatest likelihood got here within the 94th minute when Harry Kane’s header was pushed away from the road by Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
“That’s the third sport in a row that we weren’t capable of rating,” Conte mentioned. “I believe we are able to do a lot better offensively. I talk about the entire group not solely those that play within the entrance half. We will do a lot better.”
Milan was allowed to cruise by the sport on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which noticed Cristian Romero despatched off within the second half.
Kane’s effort was the closest the house group got here to leveling the rating on mixture — earlier than Milan substitute Divock Origi hit the put up in a frantic end.
“For certain in our thoughts it was to place stress on with depth however within the first half we discovered it tough offensively,” Conte mentioned. “We felt a little bit of stress. I believe they should play commonly any such sport to attempt to enhance.”
Conte was again on the sideline for Tottenham after spending two-and-a-half weeks in Turin recovering from gallbladder surgical procedure.
However the Italian supervisor might solely watch on as his group failed to interrupt down Milan, that means Spurs are nonetheless ready for a primary main piece of silverware since successful the League Cup in 2008.
Tottenham is now left to battle for a spot within the Premier League prime 4, which would supply a route again into the Champions League. Conte’s future may even be the topic of scrutiny amid ongoing hypothesis about whether or not he’ll stay on the membership past the tip of the season.
Milan, in the meantime, can dream of an eighth title in Europe’s elite membership competitors.
Solely Actual Madrid, with 14 titles, has been topped European champion on extra events than Milan.
Few count on Stefano Pioli’s group to interrupt its drought within the competitors this season, but it surely heads into the final eight after a defensively resolute efficiency subdued a Tottenham assault that was in need of concepts.
Whereas the end was thrilling, the remainder of the sport had offered few possibilities for both facet.
Tottenham had gone into the sport on the again of bruising losses to second-division Sheffield United within the FA Cup and Wolverhampton within the Premier League.
Whereas Conte’s return ought to have offered a lift, there was little signal of it as Spurs barely troubled Milan within the first half.
A deflected cross from Kane that Maignan needed to block at his close to put up was the house group’s greatest likelihood earlier than the break.
Conte had let his personal frustrations boil over when receiving a yellow card for remonstrating a reserving for Clement Lenglet within the first half, shortly after Romero had obtained his first warning.
Tottenham’s depth improved within the second half, however Diaz threatened to increase Milan’s lead when forcing Fraser Forster to avoid wasting together with his legs shortly after the restart.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg was then denied by Maignan after a driving run within the field.
Spurs continued struggled to create possibilities and their activity was made much more tough when Romero fouled Theo Hernandez and was despatched off for a second yellow card within the 78th.
With only one aim separating the groups there was at all times the possibility of late drama.
Kane got here near offering it together with his highly effective header that Maignan pushed off the road.