It was a game of many goals, poor defending and the forever controversial intervention of the VAR which set the scene for one of the most exciting UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in history.
Tottenham survived a City onslaught and with a bit of help from the video assistant booked themselves in their first ever Champions League semi-final after Fernando Llorente bundled home a late winner with less than twenty minutes to play.
It had appeared that potentially the ball had ricocheted off the Spaniard’s arm before crossing the line but the referee, with the help of the VAR believed it came off his thigh instead of his trailing right arm.
The controversy wouldn’t stop there as City had seemingly broken the hearts of Spurs fans around the world when Raheem Sterling mazed his way past a couple of defenders to dispatch what would have been the winner.
However, Sergio Aguero who played Sterling through for the goal was ruled marginally offside after VAR intervention which as a result saw Spurs scrape through to the final four.
Although Pep Guardiola’s men may feel hard done by due to the way in which they lost the tie – Tottenham were clearly the better team over the two legs.
At home, they defended strongly and took their chance when it came while City squandered a chance to score what would have been all important away goal had Agüero not missed an early penalty.
In the second leg, they were able to bounce back not once, but twice from deficits and continued showed amazing resolute to grind out an unlikely victory over their much-fancied opposition.
Mauricio Pochettino finds himself now in unfamiliar territory as he has never coached a side in the final four of a UEFA Champions League.
His side are arguably in their best position to come away with their first piece of silverware since their League Cup triumph back in 2008 and continue their incredible European run when they take on another surprise package in Ajax.
With an important clash against this morning’s opponent Manchester City, along with a range of mid-table opposition who fill their remaining fixtures – a top four position also looks likely but it will be interesting to see how they manage their squad during this run.
It has been storied throughout the season that Tottenham’s slender list of players and lack of spending throughout the last two transfer windows would be their undoing but time and time again they have found a way to defy the odds even with a list of key absentees.
They will resume their Champions League duties on April 30 when they host Ajax at the new White Hart Lane.
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