Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas relishes Inter Milan clash

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Mousa Dembele celebrates with Clint Dempsey

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas said he is relishing a meeting with Inter Milan after his team dramatically reached the Europa League last 16.

Spurs were on the verge of elimination until Mousa Dembele's late strike secured a 3-2 aggregate win over Lyon.

"We just want to recreate a special night everyone remembers at the club," said Villas-Boas after the 1-1 draw.

"Going through against Inter Milan and Lyon [would] put you in a good place to win the competition."

Two years ago, during the group stages of the Champions League, Gareth Bale produced phenomenal performances against Inter, who were then the defending European champions.

The Welshman scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 loss at the San Siro and was equally impressive at White Hart Lane, with the Spurs manager at the time, Harry Redknapp, describing the midfielder's feats as "amazing".

Bale was far less terrifying in France and Villas-Boas admitted his team did not play well in the first half in Lyon, as Maxime Gonalons scored to overturn the Londoners' 2-1 advantage from the first leg.

But Villas-Boas said: "In the second half we were the better team.

"We created some chances and we were rewarded with the second goal in the end. Individual players make a difference and Mousa certainly made the difference.

"If you look at the number of chances Lyon had over the two legs it would not have been fair if they had gone through."

Dembele, a summer signing from Fulham, admitted he experienced "all sorts of emotions" after scoring from 25 yards in the 90th minute.

"Everyone is buzzing to continue in this competition, which is why we reacted so fully, so joyfully in the end," said the Belgium international.

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317 comments

  • Regarding the attack Wednesday. Firstly, get well soon. Secondly, these attacks only started when a so-called "Human Rights Lawyer" wanted five minutes of fame and so put the spotlight on chants of Spurs supporters and the club's Jewish links. He knew nothing about Spurs, football or Judaism. Instead, he made them a target for right-wing thugs throughout Europe.

    Shame on you Peter Herbert.

  • So much negativity here about players etc. Some people seem to think that unless their team scores 4 goals and roasts the opposition in all aspects of the game, they must be playing badly. Spurs were not playing Kettering Town last night (with all respect), they were playing a very good side who closed down the space extremely well. Spurs did great to beat them. End. Of

  • Great goal from Moussa to send us through. However not a great performance. Sloppy passing in midfield; Parker was poor again, as soon as he gets the ball the play just grinds to a holt. Would be much better putting the energetic and enthusiastic Holtby alongside Dembele then play 2 up top; Ade/Def, Ade/Demp or siggy.

    Bring on Inter - Maicon will be glad he left!!

  • Even if we do end up finishing fifth, I would not say that would be a disaster. This is only AVB's first season in charge, and so far, so good. Next Season he should be judged, and if we're not comfortably Top 4 then, I'll eat my hat!
    Get rid of some of the dead wood (Parker, Gallas, Bentley, Sigurdsson, etc), and bring in some class (Moutinho, Damiao, etc) and we're laughing!
    In AVB we trust!

  • James@27.
    I see you just cannot keep away, change your allegiance, you know it makes sense. Bale gone missing? Just look at the space he creates for others when he's on the ball compared to Walcot who I'm not sure actually appeared out of the tunnel against Bayern. When Wenger gets the boot the only Arsenal player worthy of a place at Spurs, Wilshere, can come swap with Parker.

  • @19. Worst sort of spurs fan. There is always something to complain about. Dembele is good enough to score another like that and we had chaces, bale had 2 guilt edged chances (1 ineachleg). Go out without a whimper, what a stupid comment, we won the first leg 2-1 and then went away and drew against a team challenging for the title. We bossed the 2nd half and they put 11 behind the ball.Joke post

  • Fantastic second half display, even Adebayor looked botherd. This is a competition that we are capabale of winning and I'm glad that Andre is taking it seriously this year. BRING ON INTER!!

  • Also how's Walcott's 100k a week working out for you? Am I the only one that saw that as a deal of neccessity more than anything else? Walcott had you by the balls and he knew it.

  • dont tell me .... mourinos coming with messi ronaldo eto and that fat bird from big brother ohh dear ohh dear 40m might get you bales left fooft if your lucky.

  • James, it's you that disappears like a cowardly little girl after a defeat. A post every ten minutes last Saturday about Bale, then Blackburn scored and you and your yellow streak were gone. There was nothing from you for a few days until your embarrassment and humiliation subsided and then you were back as though nothing as happened. You're a coward and a laughing stock.

  • You don't have to worry about James, he's like a Bolero he starts quietly after an Arsenal shocker then builds up the stupidity over the next few days until Arsenal's next humiliation. Then he disappears like a spanked little boy for a few days and then starts again. I think Bale must remind him of a nice Welsh boy that once turned him down.

  • EVERYBODY IGNORE JAMES!
    do not reply or get involved with this hopeless gooner who clearly spends all bloomin day on here and stops any meaningful conversation.
    blank him for he is a fool.
    its doing my head in.

  • Tottenham have a very good team, impressive number of genuinely good young English players and a top young manager who im glad is doing well. Would love to see an all English semi=final if possible!

  • James you are about to blow a gasket my son!

  • Yes I am a spurs fan but AVB is doing a great job and spurs have a great squad and are building on work done by Harry. Importantly for me we are winning games both at the end of games and when not playing well. With a purchase of a top striker I cannot see a reason why we can't challenge for the title next year ........if ....and a big if ....we finish the season in the top 4

  • lov the arsenal fans deluded to say the least,spurs are showing real class for some time know,good squad , manager and players who want to be there equal a strong team and no upsets,where as arsenal have a poor squad no class players only after a good pay day(song/ podolski) wake up your time is over a long time ago ,be brave sack winger and start again cos its just sad now not even funny anymore

  • just checking your draw out. obviously not a Spurs man. bit of in fighting going on. Take it James is a Gooner?!?! Wanted to comment on one thing. I'd take Bale over Walcott any single day of the week... All the best in next round. You'll need it I think. But I do mean all the best.

  • james what is your problem ... i am an arsenal fan and i have to say you embaress me and are great club, at the moment in his current form bale is better then anyone we have bit that does not mean spurs will beat us on derby day
    But please for the love of you club learn when your beat

  • JDandFries - I might be being petty, but GB has four assists this season in the PL not one, check your facts first

  • On the subject of Bale everyone seems to be going to extremes. Either 'he's the best player to ever live' or 'he's not fit to lace Downing's boots'. He's 23 years old and the most exciting player in the premier league over the past 2-3 seasons. So, far too early to declare him the best but you'd have to be cmpletely blinkered or deluded to say he isn't a fantastic player. (Forest fan)

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