Tottenham-Milan, what it takes to progress to the quarterfinals. Garlando’s analysis

They say it could even snow today, but yesterday Milan was welcomed by a blue sky that didn’t even look like London. The specter of the match is also so radical: snow or shine. There is no gray area in between, there are no transition clouds.

Qualify, enter the G8 and chase a place among the top four in the championship with a lighter heart to guarantee participation in the next Champions League; or exit the cup, lose about twenty million, with repercussions on the market, and shelter from the controversies that would flock as big as snowballs, affecting the championship. The same crossroads awaits Tottenham and Milan. The labels affixed yesterday on the match by Antonio Conte (“Vital game”) and by Son (“The most important match of the season”) are also fine for the Rossoneri. What does the Devil have to do and not do at the glamorous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight to get into the sun?

Forget San Siro

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First thing: oblivion. Forgetting the opening goal: entering to manage would mean committing suicide. Forget Tottenham at the San Siro, soft and blunt: it will be a completely different beast. Forget the last two defeats against Sheffield and Wolverhampton and don’t count on a presumed Spurs crisis. On Saturday, Tottenham lost by an episode and a lot of bad luck (two woodwork), but played an excellent game, especially in the first half, when they put the hosts down, thanks to constant aggression. At that rate, Florence’s Milan would be torn apart. The return to the bench of Antonio Conte and the torrid home crowd can only exacerbate the intensity and competitive anger of Spurs. In the last two games in their den, Tottenham have defeated City and Chelsea, to understand each other.

Return champions

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Having done this exercise of oblivion, to forget every comfortable situation that can soften the soul, a counter effort is needed: remembering. Yesterday Rade Krunic explained: “We have to play as champions of Italy”. Exact. Remember to still be. Imposing the self-esteem and authority gained in last season by winning a lot. In the 2021-22 championship, at the height of the 25th matchday, Milan had already won 9 away games and lost only one. In this tournament he won 5 and lost 4. Another world. Tonight Milan must return to being authoritative even away from home as Pioli educated them in a Sacchiana style who baptized the match yesterday: “It must be the match of personality”. It means entering the field with your chin up, without looking at the toes of your shoes; react boldly to Tottenham’s first roars which will be wild; dare to hold the ball and play it to cool down the white infirm.

Hurricane Kane

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The reaction of the young Rossoneri defenders will be fundamental. It is clear that if Kane takes a step forward and Thiaw takes the bait like he did with Jovic, Kane will score in the same way. Tomori will not have to be the one who granted the penalty to Ikoné and Kalulu will have to avoid the many seasonal amnesias. The three will have to be concentrated, synchronized and perfect, like against Atalanta. Gasperini widened Lookman and Hojlund by focusing on their speed, but Kalulu and Tomori never allowed him depth and responded shot by shot. So they will have to do against Kulusevski and Son. If, on the other hand, Conte imposes the siege, it will become vital to stick to that devil Harry Kane who knows every secret of the area: 6 goals in the last 6 home games in the Champions League, 18 out of 20 in the Premier League. Mike Maignan polished his halo: miracles could be needed.

Leone Tonali

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But even more decisive will be the battle in the median. It is here that Milan won the first round, taking advantage of the tenderness of Sarr and Skipp in the heart of the department. Compared to San Siro, Conte recovers Hojbjerg, much more solid and structured. Compared to Florence, Pioli recovers Krunic, as much underestimated as he is fundamental for the balance and protection of the department. It is no coincidence that his last four appearances have coincided with as many clean sheets. Tonali played at Franchi debilitated by a virus. He has recovered energy, in the London arena he serves the lion of the Scudetto. If Milan manage to attack the enemy away from Maignan and prevent Spurs from spreading under the walls, everything will become easier. Diaz, recovered in extremis, scoring in the first leg, like in his time at Anfield, is the ideal antidote to English muscularity: imagination and speed. The Spaniard was also on the field in March two years ago at Old Trafford: Manchester United-Milan 1-1. That performance is the script to follow: personality, heart, technical cleanliness.

Leo, it’s time

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And then the goals will come. It is unlikely that the one in Milan will be enough to find the quarter-finals again, after 11 years. Leao, if not now, when? The gap between the man-scudetto and the current dangling version is too wide, only 2 goals in the new year, tossed between criticisms and contractual doubts. This is the right night to recover Milan. A sharp snap against the instinctive Romero or even a long quickdraw from Maignan may be enough. The touching Giroud, always present, even beyond the influence, in his English past has learned to break into the defenses of the Premier. The absence of Dier, tough guardian of Conte’s vault, is no small thing. For the rest, read the Latin inscription hanging at the entrance to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium: “Audere est facere”. Memorize and repeat it on the pitch: daring is doing.