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Tottenham has been one of the top teams in the Premier League for ten years and has never been worse than sixth. Similarly disappointing were the disappointments in the European Cup, especially in tight matches, the Spurs regularly reached their limits. Coach Mauricio Pochettino's team have now reached the knockout round of the Champions League after a 1-1 draw at FC Barcelona. "It's so important for the club we did that," Pochettino said after the game.
Last year, Tottenham was also in the second round after a strong group stage, but failed there to Juventus. The year before, the Spurs in Monaco gambled the qualification for the second round. 2016 and 2015 ended in the Europa League as soon as you met a tough opponent. In 2018 finally a close decision that Tottenham could decide for themselves.
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Champions League: One goal, then cheers - knockout round"I was calm because I always believed in my team," said Pochettino. His team had worsened twice in this Champions League season abroad so far. In Milan they lost 1-0 at the end of the match and lost, but in Eindhoven the team also caught up in the final stages. Perhaps the calm of the Argentines was also because Barcelona is more home away from home than for him. Here Pochettino had played at his first stop abroad at the local rivals Espanyol and started his coaching career there, his two sons were born in Barcelona, even he has a house in the city, where he returns as often as his schedule allows.
Weak start, later compensation
Despite all biographical proximity, the game started again as it was Spurs-Art in big games. A weak free-kick from Christian Eriksen on the other side of the penalty area was averted and the ex-Dortmunder Ousmane Dembélé was looking at the start-up newcomer Kyle Walker-Peters and Harry Winks old and overcame goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. After seven minutes, the guests' legs were paralyzed by Barcelona's reinforced B-Elf (without Lionel Messi, Marc-André ter Stege, Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba, Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets), and Pochettino's team continued to play.
But after half an hour, the Spurs freed and came through Heung-Min Son, Eriksen, Harry Kane and Moussa Sissoko to great opportunities. Barça goalkeeper Jesper Cillessen, however, showed a bravura game. Messi came on for the hosts, Philippe Coutinho hit the post twice, the game bounced back and forth like a heavyweight boxing match in the twelfth round.
Substitute punch in the 85th minute went to substitute Lucas Moura, who equalized on Kane's groundwork. It was by no means clear to all players that the equalizer against PSV had meanwhile achieved 1-1 and the Spurs absolutely needed this goal. "We did not know what the other game is, so we just kept pushing," says Kane. The goal was the last excitement of a game that kept its drama even after the final whistle.
The view to Milan
What this draw would mean now, decided in Milan. Like Kane, most Spurs start-up players did not know how it was in parallel play. The substitutes, however, were informed and talked to their teammates and those who remained on the bench watched the latest scenes from Milan live via their smartphones. Even there, it remained at 1: 1, which led to a never-ending burst of joy in the traveled with 4,500 supporters. "When I heard the fans, I knew we'd made it," Lloris said.
Pochettino himself knew what a triumph at Camp Nou feels like: in 2009 he won his first derby as coach of the bottom-left Espanyol against the then coached by Pep Guardiola front-runner, otherwise there were only defeats for him - nine pieces in total. Because also this series ended, the Spurs are despite only one point after three group games in the draw for Champions League knockout round on Monday here.
There Pochettino could meet second to a team in which he has been traded in the past few years as a coach: Real Madrid. Sooner or later, Pochettino must go to a club where trophies are won, according to experts. As a true title candidate, the Spurs are neither in England nor internationally - this does not change by the important draw in Pochettino's second home.
FC Barcelona - Tottenham Hotspur 1: 1 (1: 1)
1: 0 Dembélé (7.)
1: 1 Lucas Moura (85.)
Barcelona : Cillesen - Nelson Semedo, Lenglet, Vermaelen, Miranda - Alena - Rakitic (45th Busquets), Arthur - Dembelé (76th Denis Suarez), Munir (63rd Messi), Coutinho
Tottenham: Lloris - Walker-Peters (61st Lamela), Alderweireld, Vertonghen, D. Rose - Sissoko, Winks (83rd Llorente) - Eriksen, Alli, Son (71st Lucas Moura) - H. Kane
Referee: Milorad Mazic
Yellow cards: Semedo / Walker-Peters
Spectators: 69,961