Luciano Spalletti's wretched record in England offers Tottenham hope vs Inter
Inter Milan boss Luciano Spalletti must overcome an appalling record in England if his team are to avoid defeat against Tottenham tonight.
“If we manage to knock out a team like Tottenham, we shouldn’t rule out anything in future,” said Spalletti, who knows a win will book Inter’s spot in the last-16 — as well as breaking a 12-year personal duck.
Spalletti is regarded as one of the best coaches in Italy, but has had a miserable time in this country, with seven defeats from seven matches here, 15 goals conceded and only two scored.
One of the 59-year-old’s bleakest days as a coach came at Old Trafford, when his Roma side were beaten 7-1 by Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2007.
His European debut in this country was less embarrassing, but no more successful: a 1-0 loss at Middlesbrough in the UEFA Cup a year earlier.
With Roma, Spalletti lost to United three times and once each to Boro, Chelsea and Arsenal.
When in charge of Zenit St Petersburg from 2009-14, there was a 3-1 loss at Liverpool in 2013, though that result did not stop Zenit advancing to the last-16 of the Europa League.
