The bars of excitement is set to escalate to newer heights as the UEFA Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham inches closer. The two teams will tussle for the greatest prize in world football in what happens to be the first all-English final since 2008. Liverpool will want to win the trophy direly, having won it last in 2005 and failing to lay hands on it last season. However, the UCL final will be far more of a special occasion for Tottenham, who will be looking to land their first major trophy under Mauricio Pochettino.
When the season kickstarted back in August, hardly anyone expected the Lillywhites to reach this far in the competition, with the likes of Manchester City, Juventus and Barcelona being touted as the favourites to land the prize. However, a deeper look into their history tells us Tottenham are well-versed in surprising the footballing fraternity at will - just like they did back in season 2010/11 when they qualified in the Champions League for the first time.
With Harry Redknapp in the steward's seat at White Hart Lane, the London-based club managed to book a berth in Europe's premier competition after finishing 4th in the Premier League in season 2009-10. They eviscerated Swiss outfit BSC Young Boys in the Champions League play-offs with a 7-2 aggregate scoreline over two legs.
With the euphoria of qualifying for the UCL still intact, Tottenham were drawn in group A with Werder Bremen, FC Twente and defending champions Internazionale.
The highlight games of group A were the club's two clashes against the Nerrazurri. Tottenham produced an absolute shocker as they emerged 3-1 victors in the home game against Inter Milan. Having drawn praises from around the globe, the Lillywhites lost 4-3 to the Italian champions at San Siro in the return leg.
That game, in particular, remains as one of the most exciting games ever played in the history of the Champions League. With Inter already 4-0 up by the end of first half, Tottenham clawed back to give the Nerrazurri a scare, finishing the game 4-3 at the full-time whistle. The game marked the birth of a certain youngster by the name of Gareth Bale. Having shifted from left-back to the left-winger position after the first half, the Welshman absolutely ripped apart Maicon, the best right-back in the world back then, scoring a hattrick with all goals coming in a similar fashion from the left. While the Brazilian failed to subdue him, Bale went on to garner rave reviews for his electric display and became the club's talisman in the following years.
Tottenham emerged as victors of the group A (W3, D2, L1), notching an 18-goal tally in six games. The task, however, was far from over yet.
In the round of 16 knockout phase, Harry Redknapp's men locked antlers with AC Milan – another Italian and European giant. The English club surprised the footballing folks yet again, when Peter Crouch struck in the dying embers of the first leg at San Siro, grabbing an invaluable away goal. Tottenham then went on to defend their lead successfully at the White Hart Lane, making it to the quarter-finals to face Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid.
However, the Lillywhites failed to reproduce the magic against Los Blancos, crashing out of the competition with an aggregate 5-0 scoreline.
While Barcelona went on to win the 2011 edition of the UCL, Tottenham had made sure they won't be forgotten by Europe's elite clubs for a long time.
Eight years fast forward, the Londoners have rightly won a place for themselves amongst Europe's elite clubs, having reached the Champions League final with a meagre financial support.
Should Tottenham lift the famous trophy in Madrid this season, it will be a staunch reminder to everyone that in the case of passion and money, the former always triumphs.
