Tottenham's European Adventure

Xavier Hochstrasser. Remember the name?

He was the man back in August on a cold night in Berne, who put Young Boys of Switzerland three up inside the first 30 minutes in a Champions League qualifier, which threatened to make a mockery of Tottenham’s European dream.

Fast forward to late November, and here we are with Tottenham proudly sitting at the top of group A in the group stages, and with it, a ticket to the last 16. Few would have dreamt back in August that this would indeed be the case, as the slippery Astroturf in Berne caused havoc for the Tottenham defence.

Spurs recovered to lose the game 3-2, a game which manager Harry Redknapp described as a “great defeat”, and how right he was. In the return leg, the class of the North London side shone through, winning 4-0, and their passage through to the group stages of the Champions League was secured.

Since then, the club hasn't looked back, winning three out of their five games, scoring 15 goals in the process, and has fans dreaming of a Wembley appearance in May. And after dispatching the German side Werder Bremen 3-0 on Wednesday night, events in Switzerland now seem a distant memory.

As Peter Crouch swept in the third goal on a chilly night at White Hart Lane, thus dumping their opponents out of Europe, the transition was complete.

This time last year, few would have dared to believe that Champions League football was possible. Who would be able to break up the monopoly that was Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, four clubs that have been in the Champions League in each of the past five seasons?  It was the latter that fell away last season, allowing Tottenham Hotspur to gleefully take fourth spot in the Barclays Premier League at the expense of Manchester City.

However, as I sat in my seat on Wednesday night, watching my beloved Spurs dismantle Werder Bremen with ease, it showed that this "underachieving" club has grown into the Champions League. And who would argue that we don’t deserve it?

Those who watched the 3-1 defeat of Inter Milan on November 2nd were amazed at how easily Tottenham ripped open the reigning Italian and European champions, with the ever so impressive Maicon and Lucio made to look like Sunday league defenders.

And with the likes of Gareth Bale, Rafael Van der Vaart, Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddlestone, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Ledley King and the improved William Gallas at their disposal, many people will be wondering how far Tottenham could actually go in the Champions League.  

As long as Spurs finish off the job by beating FC Twente next month to win their group, they will be looking forward to a "kind" draw to enable them to go even further in the competition.

The win over Werder, and Champions League qualification sealed, topped off a fantastic few days for the club. Days before, they came back from 2-0 down away to Arsenal to stun their North London rivals and win 3-2, and these two wins just prove that Tottenham are once again a "force to be reckoned with".

Harry Redknapp has changed the fortunes of Tottenham, formed in 1882, ever since arriving at the club back in November 2008. When he was appointed, Spurs were floundering at the bottom of the league, with just two points from the opening eight games of the season. However, this remarkable turnaround just goes to show what a great manager he is.

He has not only changed the fortunes of the club; he has also installed self belief into his players who now believe that they can go as far as they can in Europe.

Redknapp was quoted after Wednesday night’s game by saying: “We have played some great attacking football in the Champions League. I think we will give teams problems in the way we play. We’ve got players who can get in any team. Bale and Modric can play in any team and I think I have got a few more who I think could play anywhere”.

Redknapp certainly has faith in his players, which is wreaking instant success. But will this continue?

If any Spurs fan needs reminding, the first half against Inter Milan in October proves that to be a success in the Champions League, you also need some defensive steel. Something which Tottenham didn’t have in that memorable game, in which they were 4-0 down inside the first 30 minutes.

In what was a game of two halves, Bale scored a stunning hat-trick in the second half to bring the final score to 4-3, a match which signalled that the defensive frailties that have forever followed the club came to fruition once more.

Countless times on Wednesday night, left back Benoit Assou-Ekotto was found guilty of giving possession away far too cheaply, and this will be punished by teams better than Werder.

Their glowing European reputation is increasing game by game, and the White Hart Lane faithful are certainly enjoying every minute of it. And with qualification secured to the last 16 in February, all at Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping this journey in the Champions League lasts longer than one season, and that means success in the Premier League, starting on Sunday with a tough home game against Liverpool.