MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI
“Obviously, the result is harsh. The team didn’t play well in the first half, but after the break we did well. We conceded a goal on the counter-attack, on Tottenham’s only chance of the game. The qualification hasn’t been decided yet and we’ll go to London to advance to the next round. In the first half, we were far from the ball, while in the second half we showed more courage and created two or three big chances.
Pato did well after coming off the bench, he was ruthless and did a good job. There’s no Pato case. I have four forwards at my disposal so I always have to leave someone out.
Now, plenty of important games await us in the championship and we have to focus on this”.
MAURO TASSOTTI
“In the first half, we were a bit shy, we had some difficulties and didn’t create many chances. But there were hardly any chances at either ends. In the second half, on the other hand, we were better in offence and Ibra even scored a goal, just to see it disallowed by the referee. In the first 45 minutes we didn’t manage to do much up front. We wanted to find space between their midfield and defence, but they were very compact and didn’t let us play as planned. We knew that Tottenham were a great team and that this game would be difficult, but we had to try to score and win at home. Then at a certain point, we became a bit exposed at the back and they hit us on the counter. We couldn’t have asked for more of the lads, apart from the timid start, they did well in the second half.
After coming on, Pato played with a good intensity and after his entrance the team did better. Now we are at the risk of elimination. Thanks to their away goal, Tottenham are the favourites now. We should have scored, now we’ll try to do it at White Hart Lane”.
IGNAZIO ABATE
“This result is also down to the fact that we played the first match at home. In the first half didn’t play well, then after the break we pinned them into their own half for 45 minutes. It’s a pity about the result, because with a bit more sharpness we could have obtained a different result. We knew they were a physical team. They wanted to agitate us a little bit, but we should have made them run a bit more, because technically we’re superior. Now, however, we have to concentrate on Serie A again. We need to recharge the batteries, because important games await us. We have the duty to go to London and try to qualify for the next round, out of respect for the club and for ourselves. Now we’re focusing on the championship and then we’ll think about the return leg.
The leg felt good, despite the fact that I only trained on Sunday and then yesterday after a three-week break”.
MATHIEU FLAMINI
“It’s a pity, I think we had a good second half, we created some opportunities, but conceded a goal on a counter-attack. We came out a bit timid for the first half and couldn’t play our game. But if we’ll play in the second leg as we did in the second half tonight, we have a chance. I’m very optimistic, we’ll go to London to win, we’ll give our all. These are important matches and there’s always a bit of tension, but it’s part of the game. We need to be positive, because we allowed this goal in our best moment.
My tackle on Corluka was a tough one, but I hit the ball. I went into their dressing room to ask how he was doing. I hope it’s nothing serious.”
MARCO AMELIA
“We have to go to London with the aim of overturning this undeserved result. We are alive and kicking, we are Milan and we’ll go to White Hart Lane to play our game. As for the action that led to Tottenham’s goal, they went on the counter-attack with Lennon, Mario did everything he could to slow him down, but Lennon is fast and in the end he managed to pass the ball to Crouch, who scored”.
GENNARO GATTUSO
“At the end of the match I lost my temper, I took responsibility for my actions, I did something I shouldn’t have done, but Jordan teased me for the whole second half... Anyway, this doesn’t justify what I did. It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have had a fight with someone older than me, it’s wrong. We’ll see what measures the disciplinary committee will take.
As for the game itself, we were poor in the first half, while after the break we had a couple of chances, but they were the ones to score, finishing off a counter-attack. Now we’ll need to win in London. Everyone saw that they aren’t better than us”.