outclassed Inter Milan. They had some top players and let’s not
forget, they were the Champions League holders.
“I’ll always remember the atmosphere, it was just amazing
and when the goals were going in it was incredible to part of it. I
was thinking playing with Bale and (Aaron) Lennon that as long
as I could keep up with them, I’d get plenty of chances! I had to
get myself in the box.
“Gareth destroyed Maicon the whole game, it was unbelievable
really and he did it again for my goal, slid in the perfect cross and
it was an amazing moment to score against Inter at the Lane.”
Peter netted his sixth goal in that season’s competition as we
beat Werder Bremen 3-0 at home, Younes Kaboul and Luka Modric
also on target, while a 3-3 draw in the Netherlands against Twente
ensured top spot in the group.
The draw for the Round of 16 saw us make a return to the San
Siro as we were paired with AC Milan and yet again, Crouchy was to
the fore on another memorable European night. In the pouring rain
in Milan, tempers flared at times with the home side’s midfielder
Gennaro Gattuso and our first team coach Joe Jordan squaring up
to each other. But we held our nerve and grabbed a crucial away
goal to secure a famous victory. Guess who scored?
“The AC Milan game was special,” added Crouchy. “Everything
happened that night and it was proper hostile. So, to get a little
break away with Aaron and for him to square it into my path to
tuck it away for the winner was amazing.
“I’ve got a framed photo at home of Pato and Ibrahimovic waiting
to kick off and we’re still celebrating with the boys! That was the
moment. You don’t think too much at the time but watching it
back, I was a little bit calmer than perhaps I would have been if
I’d had a bit more time to think about it!”
We finished the job in the return at the Lane, producing a
marvellous defensive performance to keep AC Milan out in a
goalless draw, setting up a quarter-final showdown against Real
Madrid. Unfortunately, this was where the dream ended as we
were beaten 4-0 in Spain, with Peter picking up two yellow cards
early in the game, and a 1-0 defeat back at the Lane meant the
Champions League adventure was over.
“That’s the only disappointment of that whole Champions
League campaign,” admitted Crouchy. “It was naïve really. I played
for England and played in the competition before, so I know what
can happen. I dived in a couple of times, their players went over
and I got sent off.
“It was a real let down on the night. We were in the game but
then I got the red card and we were out of the tie in the first leg.
It was such a pity really, but I can’t let that cloud the amazing
memories of the whole campaign.”TOTTENHAMHOTSPUR.COM(^57)
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR V APOEL FC
PETER CROUCH
A glory night in the San Siro
as Milan are beaten late on
“I’VE GOT A FRAMED
PHOTO OF PAT O AND
IBRAHIMOVIC WAITING
TO KICK OFF AND WE’RE
STILL CELEBRATING
WITH THE BOYS”