Expect fiery welcome, Redknapp tells Flamini
TOTTENHAM vs AC MILAN
TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp has warned ex-Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini to expect a white-hot reception tonight following his horrendous tackle on Vedran Corluka three weeks ago.
Spurs, who are likely to be able to call upon the services of star midfielders Gareth Bale and Rafael van dear Vaart, hold a one-goal advantage after a fractious game at the San Siro.
The chief aggravator that night, Milan captain Gennaro Gattuso, earned himself a four-game ban for headbutting Tottenham coach Joe Jordan, but Flamini escaped retrospective punishment from Uefa despite his dreadful two-footed lunge on Corluka.
“They will give him a very warm welcome,” Redknapp said. “I’m sure he expects that coming here as an ex-Arsenal player and having made a bad tackle in the first leg.”
Van der Vaart, who has been out since the first leg win, has been passed fit to play, but Bale, who made his comeback as a substitute on Sunday, remains a slight doubt.
Redknapp said: “I would love to start him if he is fit. He is a fantastic player for but if he’s not quite right then I wouldn’t want to take a chance on him.”
Spurs to bank up to £50m from kit deal
TOTTENHAM have signed a kit supplier deal worth up to £50m with Under Armour. The five-year agreement represents the American company’s largest European team sponsorship and is thought be worth up to £10m a year to the club. Under Armour currently supply the Wales national rugby team but this is their first in the Premier League.