Spurs can beat Barca - Crouch

Published Mar. 10, 2011 1:16 p.m. ET

foxsports

Spurs edged into the last eight of the competition with a 1-0 aggregate win over AC Milan thanks to Crouch's second-half strike in the San Siro three weeks ago. Last night's goalless second leg at White Hart Lane may have been a bit edgy at times, but Tottenham were the better of the two sides over the two legs and now found themselves in the quarter-finals after a remarkable debut season in the competition. A dream tie against the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United, or Arsenal's conquerors Barcelona could be on the cards for the north Londoners next month. Harry Redknapp's team have seen off Milan, holders Inter, FC Twente, Werder Bremen and Young Boys, to make it through to the quarter-finals, leaving Crouch confident that Spurs can beat any team left in the competition. "Why can't we go all the way?" he said. "We're in the quarter-finals, there is not far to go now and we see light at the end of the tunnel. "It doesn't matter who we get. We have just beaten the Italian league leaders. "Barcelona were a joy to watch against Arsenal but we've got match-winners in our dressing room and we've proved we can be resilient, so why can't we get to the final? "Barcelona are the team to beat and if we drew them in the next round it would be difficult but on our day at White Hart Lane and with the crowd behind us, we can beat anyone." Crouch tasted defeat in the 2007 final with Liverpool when the Reds lost 2-1 to Milan in Athens. That Liverpool team may have contained the likes of Steven Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Jose Reina, but Crouch believes that Tottenham's current squad are better. "Individually, we're better than that Liverpool team," said Crouch. "We were very organised and knew our jobs inside out (at Liverpool) but we have better individuals and more attacking flair here." Crouch, who has scored seven goals in the competition this season, believes that Spurs were never really threatened by the Milan attack throughout the two legs due to a rock-solid defensive performance from the likes of Michael Dawson, William Gallas and Sandro. "We proved that we can be resilient and that's what you need to be if you're playing against top-class players," the 30-year-old said. "They had a lot of possession but I don't think they caused us that many problems. We defended well and it was great to keep a clean sheet. "They have got such talent going forward so credit to the team for keeping them out and defending well. "I thought the whole back line and the goalkeeper were fantastic."