Champions League: Pape Matar Sarr and Oliver Skipp give Spurs hope despite Milan defeat

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They were thrust into the spotlight astatine 1 of football's astir iconic venues against the seven-time European champions, but a young Tottenham midfield duo showed determination was anticipation amid the gloom of decision successful Milan for Antonio Conte's side.

Injuries to Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur, alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's suspension, meant Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr were handed their archetypal Champions League starts for Spurs astatine the San Siro.

And portion the Premier League broadside whitethorn person suffered a 1-0 nonaccomplishment against reigning Serie A champions AC Milan, Skipp and Sarr justified their manager's praise and gave Spurs content they tin flooded that shortage successful the 2nd limb connected 8 March.

"I americium truly satisfied for some players due to the fact that Pape Sarr and Skippy played a truly bully crippled and showed the spot we person successful them, they repaid this," said Conte.

"Don't hide we are present with 3 midfielders and person to proceed possibly until the extremity of the play with 3 midfielders, but this benignant of show makes maine much relaxed due to the fact that I cognize I tin number connected them 100%."

Skipp and Sarr 'stand tall'

Sarr, 20, underlined the maturity of his show by having much touches (76) and playing much passes (59) than immoderate different subordinate connected the transportation including Milan's Italian planetary midfielder Sandro Tonali.

The Senegal planetary Sarr besides defended doggedly throughout, portion Skipp, who was helping Norwich triumph the Championship 2 seasons ago, was not acold down and looked astatine easiness successful beforehand of 74,320 fans successful a high-pressure atmosphere.

"Me and Pape did our jobs successful midfield, determination were things we did good and things we could person done better," said the 22-year-old.

"It was bully to summation the manager's spot and hopefully we repaid it."

Sarr, who joined Spurs from Metz successful the summertime of 2021 for £14.5m and was promptly allowed to instrumentality to the French broadside connected loan, besides made airy of his comparative inexperience, successful lone his sixth quality for the club.

"Skipp was precise neat and tidy, helium did each the sensible things, not trying to overdo it - but Sarr truly caught the eye, helium was everywhere," said erstwhile Scotland winger Pat Nevin connected BBC Radio 5 Live.

"His vigor was great, his utter assurance and arrogance connected the shot - helium was playing immoderate World Cup 40, 50-yard balls crossed the transportation and they were coming off.

"It is not normal, it is simply a young subordinate coming successful who is 4th oregon 5th prime [who stands out]. He was fixed an unexpected accidental and was astir apt Spurs champion subordinate connected the nighttime - the manager volition beryllium delighted arsenic well."

Speaking connected BT Sport signifier Tottenham, Jermaine Jenas, added: "Eyeballs were connected them. They stood gangly and were the positives that came retired of tonight.

"Sarr successful particular, his passing, however assertive helium was successful midfield, Skipp successful his archetypal Champions League acquisition connected specified a stage, it was a existent affirmative for Antonio Conte to accidental helium tin trust connected them. Big tackles, getting back, breaking up interceptions, it was bully to see."

'Spurs are inactive favourites'

Prior to Tuesday's brushwood successful Italy, Milan caput manager Stefano Pioli had lamented the financial spread between Premier League clubs and Europe's accepted elite.

However, portion determination was constricted grounds of that successful their 1-0 victory, their nonaccomplishment to enactment the necktie to furniture against a depleted Spurs broadside could beryllium costly erstwhile they question to London for the instrumentality limb successful March.

"Even astatine this point, I americium putting Spurs arsenic favourites to spell done - the prime they person got and the weaknesses successful that Milan side," Nevin added.

"It wasn't a atrocious show from Spurs, they didn't make enough. You could reason they could person got a draw. The knowing from the beforehand 3 wasn't there. It's astir getting present and inactive being progressive successful the tie. Spurs are inactive good successful this."

Speaking connected BBC Radio 5 Live Everton goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who spent clip connected indebtedness astatine Milan successful 2019-20, endorsed that presumption owed to the attacking extent Spurs person astatine their disposal.

"I don't spot however they are going to beryllium truthful tame successful the 2nd leg. When you look astatine that occurrence power, Richarlison and Arnaut Danjuma coming disconnected the bench, they are going to make much chances and I consciousness similar they volition score.

Jenas added: "Spurs cognize what the task is, alert retired the blocks, get successful their faces. I consciousness similar Milan adjacent winning 1-0, with those large chances they missed, volition beryllium disappointed."

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