Glenn Hoddle reacts as Tottenham book Champions League semi-final spot

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Tottenham Hotspur booked their spot in the last four of the Champions League on an incredible night.

Glenn Hoddle has told BT Sport’s live post-match coverage of Tottenham’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie with Manchester City (broadcast on 17/4 from 19:00) that it was a fantastic night in Spurs’ history and he felt that Mauricio Pochettino’s men deserved to book their spot in the last four.

In one of the greatest games in the competition’s history, Spurs progressed through to the semi-final on away goals. City won 4-3 on the night, but Son Heung-min’s winner in the first-leg ensured that it will be Tottenham who meet Ajax for a place in the final.

Spurs were 1-0 down after four minutes, 2-1 ahead six minutes later and 3-2 behind before the midway point in the first-half. And just before the hour-mark, the home side scored again. For the first time in tie, Manchester City were going through at that point.

But Fernando Llorente would reply inside the last 20 minutes. However, the drama would not end there. VAR was needed to confirm that Llorente had not used his arm to score, and it also ruled out a stoppage-time strike from Raheem Sterling which had fleetingly sent the Etihad Stadium into the kind of frenzy perhaps not seen since that goal against Queens Park Rangers seven years ago.

It was an incredible game befitting of the electric atmosphere. And unsurprisingly, Hoddle could not hide his delight at seeing Tottenham get the result that has kept them in the competition.

“Unbelievable game of football. It really was, and great character from Tottenham. Great character from City as well. Got to say, even at the end there after the VAR, you’re thinking they’re going to score again. Amazing team,” he told BT Sport.

“Credit to Tottenham. Over the two legs, I think they’ve deserved it, I really do. The first-leg, we’ve got to go back to that as well. You need a bit of good fortune. But VAR has won the day here I think with the two decisions. But a fantastic night for the club and these fans and the players. It’s the furthest the club’s been in their history.”