AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli has singled out the threat provided by Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son, Dejan Kulusevski and Ivan Perisic following the Champions League round-of-16 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, speaking to Tuttomercatoweb.
In a repeat of that 2011 tie – one best remembered for Peter Crouch’s winner at the San Siro and Gennaro Gattuso squaring up to Joe Jordan – the Serie A champions will once again go head-to-head with the men from North London, a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.
The presence of former Inter and Juventus boss Antonio Conte in the Tottenham dugout adds another intriguing subplot to the drama, while Spurs also have a couple of players who know Pioli’s Rossoneri like the back of their hand.
Tottenham Hotspur draw AC Milan in Champions League knockout stage
“Difficult matches, against a strong opponent,” say Pioli, who led Milan to their first Scudetto triumph since the Max Allegri era last season. “(Tottenham are) coached by a great coach who knows us well.
“In the second round, it is unthinkable to find easy opponents. But we prepare for it best (we can). They will be a stimulating opponent. We will play it with our qualities, with confidence.
“(Conte) is a great coach, who has won so much everywhere. He gives a clear identity and a great mentality to his team. Tottenham is very compact and tidy with very strong individuals, like Kane, Son, Kulusevski, Perisic – many who know Milan and Italian football.
“On paper, I think it can be a balanced challenge. But unbeatable teams do not exist. We know that, in these matches, we have to raise our level of football a lot.”
Milan, like Tottenham, stumbled through the group-stage, finishing six points behind Chelsea in second spot. They were swept aside 2-0 and 3-0 by Graham Potter’s men; results that should give Tottenham hope in the New Year.
Milan have not beaten an English team in Europe for over a decade either. They have suffered defeats to Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool in recent seasons.
Pioli, however, is hopeful that veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic can return from injury in time to feature against Tottenham in February.
“We all hope that Zlatan can come back with us as soon as possible,” he adds. “The recovery is progressing well. Then let’s see.”
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