Former Milan and Tottenham striker Joe Jordan reveals that Gennaro Gattuso gifted him a Rossoneri shirt years after their famous touchline clash and believes Harry Kane or Olivier Giroud will be ‘crucial’ in tonight’s Champions League meeting in London.
Milan and Tottenham meet at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday night in the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16. Stefano Pioli’s men won the first leg at San Siro 1-0 on February 14.
Jordan was Tottenham’s assistant coach when Spurs eliminated Milan in the Champions League Round of 16 in 2011, winning the first leg at San Siro 1-0.
The game ended with a famous touchline row involving the Englishman and Gattuso.
“It belongs to the past, the truth is that we are similar, impulsive and with strong character,” the former striker told Gazzetta on Wednesday.
“I remember the incident with a smile. We are similar and we’d do anything to win. Once, we met at San Siro when Gattuso was the Milan coach and he gifted me a shirt with my name.”
Are Milan the favourite to qualify for the quarter-finals after their victory at San Siro last month?
“They have 51% chances,” noted Jordan.
“The two goals missed by Malick Thiaw and Charles De Ketelaere [in the first leg] could have an impact, but Milan are recovering. It seems they were collapsing in January, but Pioli did a good job.”
What’s been Tottenham’s problem this season?
“They’ve had no consistency after the World Cup. They lost against Sheffield United and Wolves. The manifesto of the season was at the beginning of February when they beat Manchester City 1-0, conceding four against Leicester City in the following round. It’s hard to emerge with all these ups and downs.”
Antonio Conte will return to the dugout tonight after spending almost one month in Italy following surgery to remove his gallbladder.
“It will be crucial. I like Antonio, he’s a winner. It will be magic if he qualifies for the quarter-finals, like winning the Premier League,” said Jordan who added Spurs and Milan centre forwards would be crucial in North London tonight.
“Kane kicks with both feet, one second is enough to make a difference, he’s the primary threat for Milan.
“When Giroud was playing for Arsenal, we’d spend the entire week studying how to stop him, but it’s tough. He’s 36, but it feels like he’s still a kid. One of them will decide the game.”