OH MY QUAD
Champions League classic that had everything leaves Poch in dreamland and Pep in purgatory
SPURS boss Mauricio Pochettino admitted his side were handed a miracle as VAR saved Spurs from last-gasp heartache – and sealed a spot in the Champions League semi-finals.
A thrilling 90 minutes saw Manchester City run out winners but crash on away goals after a 1-0 first-leg loss as their dream of the Quadruple died.
But the tie would have been turned on its head had Raheem Sterling’s injury-time strike for City been allowed to stand.
Boss Pochettino, whose side now face Ajax in the last four, said: “It was unbelievable the way it
finished. I’m so happy, so proud. My players are heroes to be here. I’m so happy for them, so happy for the fans.
“In a moment many things happened in my head, the disappointment was massive but they changed the decision.
“And that is why we love football. It was an unbelievable game.”
Gutted City boss Pep Guardiola insisted his side’s exit was “cruel” but praised the backing from a raucous home support.
He said: “It’s cruel but it is what it is and we have to accept it.
“After 20 minutes we managed to be 3-2 up but unfortunately, it was a bad end for us.
“I support VAR but maybe from one angle Fernando Llorente’s goal is handball, maybe from the referee’s angle it is not.
“We missed a penalty in the first leg but I am so proud of the players and the fans. I have never heard noise like that since I’ve been in Manchester. Football is unpredictable.
“We have a lot of games left, from the league to the FA Cup Final. Today is tough and tomorrow will be tough too but the day after we will be ready.”
Christian Eriksen, who gave the ball away in the build-up to Sterling’s disallowed goal, said: “I must be one of the luckiest guys on the planet tonight. I thought it was all over but it was a fun game.
“It was a rollercoaster, we gave them a lot but also got a lot. A weird game.”
And Eriksen, who spent three years with Dutch giants Ajax after coming through the ranks, was thrilled to be returning.
He said: “After today we take a deep breathe, it will be a fairytale to play them and fun to be back again.”
Spurs’ ace Son Heungmin said: “I’ve never seen anything like that. It was madness. Sometimes you are annoyed with VAR but today it’s ‘thank you’.
“It was tough and crazy but we’re very proud.”