This week saw us featuring in the draw for the Champions League group stage for only the third time in our history and second season in a row. Despite the draw being more like an evening at the dentist than a fun event due to the nature of how they go about it there is always an element of excitement while you await to see which of Europe’s elite will be coming to Wembley to face it and what venues we as fans can go explore.
We drew Dortmund, a team we know well… APOEL … a team we have faced in Europa League action and then there is a Spanish side called Real Madrid who a couple of our rejects actually play for, a Welsh lad and some Croatian … I will try and dig their names up at some point so you might remember who they are.
What a draw I thought. I have my ticket for Wembley and I will be getting to see some excellent players on display because after all, why try your very best to get to the promised land of the Champions League and then hope to face rubbish? If you want to play second tier European sides, you can do that on Thursday nights (ask any Arsenal fan).
The reaction from some fans did confuse me though. The negativity! It’s true, we might struggle but its 11v11 and we have a very good chance to test ourselves against the very best. What we have all wanted.
Wembley is of course going to be a big factor and that is going to be true all season be it Premier or Champions League games – even domestic cups home draws will become massive occasions for the teams coming to face us.
Although a potentially painful season I believe that this season in Wembley will serve our squad well. The reason is actually down to something Sir Alex Ferguson said some time ago about signing players for Manchester United; “…you don’t just have to be a good player but you have to understand the pressure, the pressure of playing for this club as every game is the other teams final, every game they raise their game as everyone wants to beat Man Utd….”
He was right and as we have become more consistent and held in a higher regard we have all noticed how teams play with every man behind the ball against us now just hoping to nick a goal or not get battered. Our young squad has been learning how to break that down and now we are at Wembley and teams are raising their games even more.
As we go into our new stadium we all know EVERY team that comes there will want to be the first to beat us there and so this season at Wembley will be excellent experience and prepare all of our players for the new reality.
So to round up, I am not sure why people are being so negative about Wembley or the Champions League draw. Its exciting. People seem to endure supporting Tottenham rather than embracing it. Its sport, entertainment. Enjoy it!
-SJ
