TOTTENHAM were booed off at half-time and full-time as fans’ frustration grew in their failed Champions League must-win clash.
And Antonio Conte’s decision to sub off Dejan Kulusevski for Davinson Sanchez as they chased a goal also led to a furious reaction.
Spurs hosted AC Milan in North London hoping to overturn the 1-0 first-leg deficit in the last-16 showdown.
But they barely offered anything in the delayed opening 45 minutes, despite knowing they needed to score to have any chance of progressing into the quarter-finals.
Tottenham managed just two shots and NONE on target.
And when the half-time whistle blew, the 60,000 home fans made their feelings clear by jeering the players down the tunnel.
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Ex-Tottenham striker Peter Crouch said at the break: “I said they need to go on the front foot and get the crowd with you, it’s been the exact opposite.
“It’s as if Spurs are 1-0 up and are seeing the game out – something needs to change. Milan have got so much time to pick their passes.
“I can’t understand it, it’s not the first time either.
“Tottenham’s best players are going forwards but are they being allowed to express themselves?”
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Rio Ferdinand added in the BT Sport studio: “We said give the fans something to cheer about, they’ve done nothing.
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“They’ve not even made the keeper work, it’s nothing like we thought this stadium would produce with knockout Champions League nights.
“No Milan player will be coming in at half-time thinking, ‘Woah, that was a hard game.’”
Tottenham had their passionate manager Antonio Conte back on the touchline after recovering from surgery.
However, the most energy and fight was shown by the fiery Italian on the sideline as he picked up a first-half yellow card.
But Glenn Hoddle offered one piece of positive for the exasperated Spurs fans – by pointing out the home side will be shooting towards the giant South Stand.
Eight of the last ten goals scored at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have found the net in front of the so-called ‘White Wall’.
Hoddle, who admitted there was “no urgency” from Spurs, said: “I guarantee they go to the other end and watch, this will be a different team.”
However, it was not to be as Spurs limped out with a 0-0 draw on the night.
Harry Kane eventually forced Mike Maignan into a smart save in injury time – the second effort on target for the home side.
I’ve never seen the crowd so flat but that was because of the performance
Peter Crouch
The mood also worsened with ten minutes to go after Cristian Romero was sent off for a stupid second yellow… and Conte took off attacker Kulusevski and threw on an extra defender.
That bizarre decision prompted more boos from the stands, before another angry chorus greeted the full-time whistle as Spurs’ exit was confirmed.
Crouch added: “The problem with the fans is tactically it’s too defensive and pragmatic.
“In the first half of a Champions League second leg, come out and go at them.
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“I’ve never seen the crowd so flat but that was because of the performance – that comes from the manager.
“This consistently happens, it’s not been good enough.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
