Spurs v Juventus - preview panel
Pat Jennings and Reshmin Chowdhury look ahead to Juve...
Tue 13 February 2018, 12:59|
Tottenham Hotspur
Legendary former goalkeeper Pat Jennings and Reshmin Chowdhury, broadcaster for BBC and BT Sport, give their views on the huge Champions League Round of 16, first leg against Juventus in Turin.
The legend - Pat Jennings
Recognised as the best goalkeeper in the world in his heyday, Pat played 590 times for us between 1964-77 - third in our all-time appearance list - lifting the FA Cup (1967), League Cup (1971, 1973) and the UEFA Cup (1972). He helped us overcome AC Milan over two legs in the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1972.
"Juventus have the reputation of being so strong defensively (they have kept seven clean sheets on the trot, conceding one goal in the last 16) and it's the attitude of 'let's keep a clean sheet and take it from there'. In European ties, especially playing away first, our plan would always be to try to keep a clean sheet and nick an away goal. To be honest, that's never really changed in European football. We'd then know exactly where we stood at White Hart Lane. The matches in Europe were always fantastic. The team is playing well and will take confidence from the performances against Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund."
We always had the belief that we would score in the away leg, even if it was in a draw.
The pundit - Reshmin Chowdhury
Broadcaster for BBC and BT Sport, you’ll find Reshmin at the coal face of football, interviewing managers and players minutes after the final whistle, often with emotions running high.
“I went to the new Juventus Stadium for a Champions League tie at this stage of the competition a couple of years ago, when Juve played Bayern Munich (23 February, 2016). Bayern were 2-0 up that night but Juventus came back to draw 2-2. Of course, that was a different team and a different time, but the noise in that ground was absolutely unbelievable and has really stuck with me. Tottenham have to keep their heads in that atmosphere and just think about how far they’ve come in this competition. I was at Gent last season and watched Spurs crash out of the Europa League over two legs – but this is a completely different prospect, there is more steel to this current Spurs side. They’ve learnt from past mistakes and are rising to the occasion of these huge European games.
My heart is telling me that there is no reason why Spurs cannot come through this tie over two legs.
"We all know Juventus are incredibly strong, they are in form (nine wins on the trot) and they have magical players who can change games like Mandzukic, Higuain and Dybala (who looks likely to miss out through injury) – but so have Spurs. If they take the belief they must have from performances so far in the Champions League, plus recent form in the Premier League, with all the players available, then they simply have nothing to fear. I think the start will be important, getting out there on the front foot, knowing they can match Juve on every level. An away goal before returning to Wembley could also prove vital."
