Tottenham Hotspur v AC Milan: former Arsenal man Mathieu Flamini can expect barracking at White Hart Lane
Harry Redknapp has warned Mathieu Flamini, the former Arsenal midfielder, that he can expect an especially hostile reception at White Hart Lane on Wednesday during the Champions League second leg between Tottenham and AC Milan.
In the firing line: Mathieu Flamini was heavily criticised for his foul on Tottenham's Vedran Corluka Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Jeremy Wilson 10:45PM GMT 07 Mar 2011
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Flamini spent four years at Tottenham's fiercest rivals from 2004 until 2008, but has most antagonised Spurs fans with his dangerous tackle on Vedran Corluka at the San Siro that Redknapp described as “horrendous”.
Corluka suffered a badly sprained ankle and has not played since. Flamini did apologise but said on Monday that Redknapp had been “very clever to make a big story” of the incident and denied being a dirty player.
With Gennaro Gattuso suspended after the badly tempered first leg that Tottenham won 1-0, Redknapp knows that Flamini is likely to be the target for the home fans.
“He probably will [get a bad reception],” said Redknapp. “It will be a great atmosphere at White Hart Lane anyway. When you are in the position we have got ourselves into, European nights at White Hart Lane are fantastic.
“We have not had Champions League nights there and this year they have all been fantastic – Inter Milan was amazing and this will be even bigger.”
Redknapp also said that his assistant, Joe Jordan, had “moved on” after being butted by Gattuso. “He’s the quietest man in the world away from football — you couldn’t meet a nicer guy,” said Redknapp.
Jermain Defoe is relishing the prospect of an electric atmosphere and, with the final at Wembley, admitted that he gets emotional even thinking about the possibility of playing such an important match in his home city.
“I’d probably start crying,” said Defoe. “Just playing in any final really is special but to play in the Champions League final in London at Wembley, being a Londoner, [would be] fantastic. The Inter game, and winning at AC Milan, was fantastic. It’s just been magical to be honest. It’s a great time to be at the club.
“At the beginning of last season people didn’t really speak about us finishing in the top four, so to actually finish there and have that consistency which we showed towards the end of the season was great. To do it again this season is even better.”
Defoe believes that Tottenham must take the game to Milan despite holding the advantage but is also wary of the Serie A leaders on the counter-attack.
“We’ve got to go out and from the first whistle just try and score,” he said. “The stadium is going to be rocking, so we’ve just got to work hard and play like we have been.
“I think they will come and sit back and try and frustrate us and make it difficult. If you switch off at any stage, especially in the Champions League, you can get punished, especially with the players that they’ve got going forward.”
Despite his two goals against Wolves on Sunday, Defoe is unlikely to start on Wednesday night.
The expectation is that Rafael van der Vaart will again play in a free role behind Peter Crouch, who missed Sunday’s 3-3 draw against Wolves, with Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale providing pace and width down the two flanks.
AC Milan, meanwhile, have confirmed that former Tottenham midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng will miss the match after suffering a sprained ankle during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Juventus.
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