Don’t underestimate Spurs’ guts after achieving mission improbable

Ever feel that you need to be in two places at once? As we sat high up in the Camp Nou, watching Barcelona and Tottenham play out a 1-1 draw, eyes were stuck fast on updates from the San Siro. It was like watching Tony Blair’s nervous smile in Sedgefield in May 1997 while Michael Portillo grimaced in Enfield. All you needed was to splice yourself in half. Was that really too much to ask?

High up in the stadium, thousands of Tottenham supporters had the same wish. Even their equaliser, when it eventually came, could not be fully enjoyed in case pride came before almost-instant fall. Their joyous news arrived via a final whistle sounded hundred of miles away. As the stadium announcer decreed that the away support must remain after the end of the match until instructed otherwise, they greedily accepted her request. They would have stayed all night if they could.