Spurs boss hits out at former Gunner over lunge at Corluka during victory

ROME - Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp blasted former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini over a horror studs up, two-footed lunge that he said could have broken Vedran Corluka's leg.

The Croatian was forced off after the shocking challenge that somehow earned the Frenchman only a booking.

It means he will be available for the second leg at White Hart Lane in two weeks time where Spurs will be defending a 1-0 lead against AC Milan following a glorious European night for the English side at the San Siro.

Peter Crouch scored the only goal of the game 10 minutes from time after Aaron Lennon scorched away on the counter-attack leaving strewn Milan bodies in his wake.

While he was delighted with the result, Redknapp was outraged at the leniency shown to Flamini.

But he made light of a headbutt by Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso on Spurs assistant manager Joe Jordan, a former Milan player and renowned hardman, after the final whistle.

"I don't know why he got so silly, Gattuso had a flare up with Joe and obviously he hadn't done his homework," joked Redknapp.

"He could have picked a fight with someone other than Joe. He put his head into Joe's face, he went crazy and lost his head.

"But during the game that tackle from Flamini was horrendous, it's a sending off.

"He had two feet off the floor, it's a leg breaking tackle, it could have broken Corluka's leg easily, he's done some damage but it could have been worse.

"I'd like to see (UEFA) look at that tackle, it's a leg-breaking tackle, a terrible tackle.

"How the referee doesn't give a red card, I don't know, it's two-footed, off the floor, a tackle that breaks legs."

Flamini apparently went into the Spurs dressing room after the game to apologize while Crouch joked Gattuso obviously doesn't like losing.

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said Gattuso's behavior was inexcusable.

"Flamini's was a very hard foul but there was also a foul against Gattuso's knee that was bad," he said.

"At the end of the game it was an unpleasant episode, there was a bit of nervousness, I don't know why it happened.

Although teams rarely lose in the Champions League knockout stages after winning a first-leg away from home, Redknapp insisted he would not be counting his chickens just yet.

"There's a long way to go still, we've got to get through this round," he said.

"We're playing well, that's four good wins we've had in the last two weeks."

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 02/17/2011 page24)