Source: Daily_Mail
Tottenham v Real Madrid: Redknapp confident Spurs can pull of a miracle at White Hart Lane
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is confident that his players are capable of creating history by pulling off a 'miraculous' comeback against Real Madrid on Wednesday.[LNB]A ruthless 4-0 hammering in the Bernabeu last week left Tottenham facing a huge task to overcome Jose Mourinho's side and make the Champions League semi-finals. [LNB]No team in the history of the competition has been able to overturn a four-goal margin from a first leg defeat, although three teams have managed it in other UEFA tournaments.[LNB] It's not over, yet! Redknapp is surprisingly bullish ahead of the quarter-final second leg[LNB]That said, those three teams were facing Borussia Monchengladbach, La Choux-de-Fonds, and Queens Park Rangers, and not a team blessed with the world's best talent looking to conquer Europe for the 10th time.[LNB]Bookmakers rate Spurs' chances of making the semi-finals as long as 50-1, but Redknapp nonetheless cut a relaxed and optimistic figure today.[LNB]'We are in a situation where everyone feels the tie is over but we know we are a good team and can play well here at White Hart Lane,' Redknapp said.[LNB]'We know it will take a miracle but miracles can happen and we have to believe that we can give it our best shot tomorrow and if we play very well, you never know what will happen.[LNB] Humbled: Spurs were totally outplayed in the first leg at the Bernabeu[LNB]'I went last year to see Juventus at Craven Cottage and Fulham were 3-1 down after the first leg and then went 1-0 down on the night early on.[LNB]'They came back and won the tie. It was one of the great games I've seen and shows that anything is possible. You never know with football.[LNB]'We have to turn in a good performance and see if we can win the game and we will see where it takes us from there. We will see how it develops.'[LNB]Spurs came back from 3-0 down in the qualifying round against Young Boys to make the group stages and then almost pulled off a similar feat against Inter, where they fell one goal short of a 4-4 draw after Gareth Bale's superb second-half hat-trick.[LNB]The attacking football that Redknapp has employed throughout the competition has endeared the team to many neutrals, but the Tottenham manager admits he may have to rein his team in for the first time tomorrow, despite the four-goal deficit.[LNB] So, what's the plan? Redknapp and Joe Jordan mull over the various options for Wednesday night's showdown[LNB]'It's OK saying you're going to attack them but you can't be that open,' Redknapp added. 'You are playing against world-class players. You don't want to start bombing forward and be ripped open on the counter-attack and get hammered that way.[LNB]'You have to be controlled and take the chances when they come and give it our best go.'[LNB]The club have enjoyed a dream debut season in the competition, defeating both Milan giants, FC Twente, Werder Bremen and Young Boys to reach the quarter-finals.[LNB]They may be three points behind Manchester City in the hunt for a place in next year's Champions League, but there is no doubt that the experience of playing in this year's competition has left Redknapp desperate for more.[LNB]'It has been a great run and we have enjoyed every minute of it,' the 64-year-old said. 'Every game has been an absolutely fantastic, home and away and we have been involved in some amazing games.[LNB] Heading for the exit? Redknapp has been boosted by the return of Aaron Lennon[LNB]'When we came into it at the start if you'd have said we would make the last eight, we would have taken that for sure.'[LNB]Mourinho may rest some of the five players he has on yellow cards, but the stellar squad he has at his fingertips means that Real are more than capable of scoring the first goal that would kill the tie.[LNB]Redknapp will be forced into a reshuffle up front, with Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko vying to replace the suspended Peter Crouch.[LNB]Redknapp would not reveal which striker he would choose to partner Rafael van der Vaart today, but did reveal that Aaron Lennon is available after overcoming the illness that prompted his last-minute withdrawal from the first leg.[LNB]Redknapp said: 'Aaron trained this morning. He feels better. I think he should be ok. He is available tomorrow.' No Bale out at Spurs! Modric dismisses talk of him and Gareth leaving White Hart LaneDawson dreaming of Madrid comeback as Spurs look to save Euro adventureLennon raises hopes of facing Madrid after sprightly Spurs training sessionAll the latest Tottenham news, features and opinion [LNB] Explore more:People: Roman Pavlyuchenko, Peter Crouch, Harry Redknapp, Aaron Lennon, Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe, Jose Mourinho Places: Madrid, Milan, Europe
