‘Spurs must resist Crouchy clangers’

GARY Mabbutt has stressed the need for Tottenham to keep cool heads in the cauldron of the Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday night.

Spurs play Real Madrid in Champions League Group H – and White Hart Lane legend Mabbutt (above) knows it is vital that Mauricio Pochettino’s men show composure, this time.

On both Tottenham’s previous visits to the current European Cup holders, they have had a man sent off.

Back in 1985, Steve Perryman saw red as his team went out of the UEFA Cup, and six years ago Real won 4-0 in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final and Peter Crouch collected two yellow cards in the first quarter of a hour.

Mabbutt – an FA Cup and UEFA Cup winner with Spurs in his 16 years at the club – watched both those games and said: “It can be very intimidating there, that goes without saying.

“If you have to take them on with 10 men you have very little chance. But I believe we have enough experience in the team – from goalkeeper to striker – to handle the atmosphere.

“You start with Hugo Lloris, then you have two of the best central defenders around, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen. And Harry Kane is in great form.

“Real have class and quality. But they are not having the best of starts to the season, plus Gareth Bale is out injured. The first 15 to 20 minutes will be important. The crowd will be passionate, we know that.

“But if we can frustrate them, then the crowd can get restless. They expect Real to win, but I honestly feel we are more than capable of getting a draw over there.

“This is the club’s second successive season in the Champions League. We have shown we have learned from last season. It is as though we belong there now, that we deserve to be there.

“It was like unknown territory when we played at the Bernabau a few years back. the tie was all over after that first leg when we lost 4-0. You can’t play against Real in Madrid with 10 men for three quarters of the game and expect to get anything from the match.

“So it is vital to keep 11 players on the pitch. All the pressure is on Real, not Spurs. Their fans anticipate a win and we can turn that in our favour.

“Look at the start Real have made to the season – there are definitely chinks in the armour, and Spurs have the players to exploit any weakness.

“Pochettino is very shrewd tactically. He will have his team well prepared. Everyone will know what is expected of them.

“Spurs have a great chance of getting a good result. Our record in this Champions League so far is tremendous – played two, won two.

“As far as I can see, we have a great chance of reaching the knockout stages. We have a squad equipped to do well in Europe.”