Chris Sutton has hailed Tottenham for reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League, despite not spending a penny in their last two transfer windows.
Spurs saw off Manchester City on aggregate after a pulsating clash at the Etihad on Wednesday night, and the BT pundit was amazed at their success after such a frugal recruitment policy.
Writing in a column for the Daily Mail, he said: “Tottenham, the only Premier League club to have spent absolutely nothing in last summer’s transfer market, are Champions League semi-finalists and Manchester City are not.
“Let that sink in. This was a defining night for Spurs against a side who have racked up a net spend of more than £350million under Pep Guardiola. It shows it’s not always about the money.
“What a night this was. Spurs are now three games from winning the biggest trophy of them all. Incredible.”
OPINION
This was one of the great Champions League matches, and one that will certainly live long in the memory. Tottenham had no right to go the Etihad and score three goals, especially without Harry Kane, and especially after Moussa Sissoko had to leave the field through injury. People talk and talk about Pep Guardiola’s management credentials, and how he improves the players at his disposal to turn them into world class talents, but what about Mauricio Pochettino? The Argentine has spent nothing since last January, and yet here he is, leading a team assembled on the relative cheap into a European semi-final. In many ways, it is fitting that they will face Ajax, another side who have done things differently, and whichever way that tie goes, it will be a triumph for football to have one of those teams in the final. Spurs were absolutely brilliant last night, and honestly, they deserved this so, so much.