Tottenham told ‘best in the world’ Kane can spark Milan comeback; Conte ‘lives for this game’

Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp reckons Antonio Conte’s side will overturn their 1-0 aggregate deficit to knock AC Milan out of the Champions League.

The Premier League club were beaten by a single goal at the San Siro in their last-16 first leg last month.

Conte was in the dugout for the defeat at the San Siro after undergoing surgery to remove his gallbladder.

He made his return for the 4-1 loss to Leicester City a few days prior and was then instructed to take another absence following the Champions League loss.

After missing the Premier League wins over London rivals West Ham United and Chelsea, plus Saturday’s defeat at Wolves, Conte will once again return – hopefully for good – against Milan.

“The pressure? We live for this type of game, we live for this type of moment because when the pressure is going up, it means your level is going up,” the Tottenham boss said on Tuesday.

“Don’t forget last season we play Conference League and instead this season we are playing Champions League. We won our group, the first leg we lost 1-0 and we have possibility tomorrow to beat Milan and then to go to the next round.

“I think for sure don’t forget the past and to understand we need to have step by step to improve the situation. Then if you ask me do I want to win the Champions League? I tell you yes but then there is reality.

“We have to be ready to go game by game. Tomorrow the obstacle is Milan and we have to beat them with two goals if we want to go to the next round. The pressure is normal and we have to live with this type of pressure.

“Maybe if there is one thing that we have to try to improve, the whole environment here, is to live with the pressure. To live with the pressure means to sometimes be a bit stressed and not always to be in peace with yourself, but to stress yourself and to put pressure in a positive way.

“I think that in this aspect we can improve a lot and the whole environment can improve a lot about this aspect.”

Former Spurs manager Redknapp has faith in the Premier League side turning the tie around and advancing to the last eight of the Champions League.

“Tottenham have some difficulties away from home sometimes, but I think 1-0 isn’t a bad result,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll turn the tables in the second leg.

Redknapp went on to wax lyrical about Harry Kane, who he believes is “the best centre-forward in the world”.

“When you have players of the level of Harry Kane, (Heung-Min) Son, Richarlison and (Dejan) Kulusevski… They are all capable of overturning similar situations,” Redknapp continued.

“In my opinion, Tottenham have the best centre-forward in the world in Harry Kane.

“And the atmosphere in the stadium will make the difference. It will be difficult to stop Tottenham. Tottenham’s stadium in my opinion is probably the best in the world. It’s incredible, really.”

Redknapp also insisted that Serie A sides are not what they used to be.

“I have to admit that the Italian teams aren’t as strong as they once were,” he added. “They are not at the same level as a few seasons ago.

“Milan and Inter certainly have great traditions. But the only one that gives me the impression of being a top team at the moment is Napoli. What they are doing is incredible.”

Redknapp took Spurs to the San Siro to face Milan in the 2010-11 Champions League last 16.

His side came out victorious thanks to a Peter Crouch goal, but the match will always be remembered for Gennaro Gattuso’s altercation with assistant boss Joe Jordan.

Redknapp’s Spurs also famously lost 4-3 at the San Siro – this time against Inter Milan – in 2010 when Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick.