Tottenham Hotspur v AC Milan: Preview

09 March 2011 14:00
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp insists he will not risk Gareth Bale in Wednesday's Champions League showdown with AC Milan unless he is convinced his star winger is 100% fit.

Bale looked set to start the second leg of the last-16 tie at White Hart Lane after he trained with his team-mates on Tuesday, 48 hours after making a successful comeback from his six-week back injury lay-off against Wolves.

The 21-year-old looked sprightly in the 3-3 draw at Molineux, breaking through the Wolves defence on one occasion to almost grab a fourth goal that would have earned Spurs a vital victory. However the Wales winger did not react well to a full training session with his team-mates, making him a major doubt to face Milan.

Redknapp's team are favourites to progress after they beat the Italian outfit 1-0 in the first leg, but he would be forgiven for throwing the youngster into his team given his stunning impact on the club's Champions League campaign this season. Yet the Spurs boss is adamant he will not force Bale to start unless he is fully fit.

"I'm sure Gareth is desperate to play but I don't think he will play if he doesn't feel 100%," Redknapp said.

"Obviously I would love to start him if he is fit. He is a fantastic player for us but if he's not quite right then I wouldn't want to take a chance on him. If the boy says he is not ready to start then I wouldn't push him.

"This morning he felt he wasn't quite ready to start. His back was okay but he felt a little stiff in his legs so we will wait until tomorrow to see how he is. At the moment it would be doubtful whether he would be fit to start."

Should they avoid defeat on Wednesday, Redknapp's team will secure their passage through to the last eight of the Champions League in what has been a remarkable debut season in the competition. The club have registered wins over both Milan clubs, Werder Bremen, FC Twente and Young Boys Berne whilst treating their fans to a series of pulsating games at White Hart Lane, where they hold a 100% record in the competition.

The Londoners are outsiders to clinch the trophy but Redknapp would not rule his team out of making the final at Wembley in two months' time.

"It's there for someone to win it and we're still in it," he said.

"We have to play Milan first and we know how hard that will be. But I'm sure all our players want to continue in this competition as I do, and all the staff. It's a fantastic competition. Once you have played in it you want more and we want to stay in as long as we can and it's a wide open competition this year again."

Tottenham may have won the heart of the neutral fan with their brand of attacking football this season, but doubts remain whether a team that has conceded 14 goals in the competition will be able to make it all the way past Europe's elite to Wembley.

Redknapp admits his side do have defensive flaws but has ruled out the possibility of sending his team out to defend versus Milan. He said: "We are not coming here to sit on a 1-0 lead. My message to the players will be "Let's get after them and let's press them" and hopefully we will be able to go and score again.

"I wouldn't want to put a negative thought in the players' minds at all. It's a game we want to win so let's get after them."

Aside from Bale, influential midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is fit enough to start having missed out against Wolves on Sunday with a calf injury. Ledley King and Younes Kaboul have recovered from their respective groin and knee injuries.

Vedran Corluka could also start after making a quick recovery from the ankle sprain he sustained during the 1-0 win at the San Siro. The Croatian was on the receiving end of a horrific tackle from Matthieu Flamini, who Redknapp is sure will get a hostile reception.

"They will give him a very warm welcome," Redknapp said.

"I'm sure he expects that coming here as an ex-Arsenal player and having made a bad tackle in the first leg."

Source: DSG