Martin Keown has sounded a stark warning to Tottenham Hotspur ahead of their Champions League last-16 second leg against Juventus.
Spurs head into the second leg clash at Wembley with the advantage, having come from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw at the Allianz Stadium last week.
Those two crucial away goals put Spurs in the driving seat ahead of the follow-up clash on the 7th of March, but BBC pundit Keown has issued a big warning ahead of the match, saying Spurs are capable of a poor performance.
In a Q&A column for the Daily Mail, Keown was asked about the five English sides’ chances of reaching the quarter-finals, and he said: “I think England will have three or four teams. Liverpool and Manchester City are already through.
“Tottenham got two away goals against Juventus but their job is only half done. They are capable of a disappointing performance and the Rochdale replay has created an extra game they did not need.
“Then it is a case of whether Manchester United and Chelsea can win their second legs. I feel that while United are favourites to go through in their tie, the Spanish teams have the edge.”
Tottenham’s first leg against the Italian champions started disastrously, with Gonzalo Higuain scoring twice within the first nine minutes to seemingly condemn Spurs to an early exit.
However, goals from Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen secured a famous draw for Spurs, who somehow followed up such a great result with a 2-2 draw against Rochdale in the FA Cup.
OPINION
Spurs will be well aware of the task at hand when Juventus visit Wembley. Those two away goals could be wiped out in a matter of minutes, and their European dreams could be shattered. Mauricio Pochettino’s men will however be well up to the task as they look to match their last Champions League knockout appearance from 2010/11. Attention first turns back to the league, and their pesky replay against Rochdale at Wembley next week, which is a match Spurs will be expected to stroll through.