At the highest level of soccer, it is rare that a team consistently defies expectations; the investments, tactical thought, and difficult training that create the best clubs ensure that most matches go as expected. However, Tottenham Hotspur has risen to the top of the Champions League when they were expected to lose thrice before, beating Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, and Manchester City, the latter of which is regarded as the strongest team in Europe. Their success is an example of when luck, practice, and mental fortitude combine to create one of the most remarkable runs in Champions League history.
In the past couple of years, Tottenham has spent very little money on new players. Instead, they’ve focused on improving their current players and bringing up younger players through their academy system. Their star player, Harry Kane, was injured for many of the team’s critical matches. Nothing pointed towards the success of Tottenham, yet against all odds, they have seen victory.
As a fan of the sport, I find myself lost in these improbable runs. “Fairy-tale runs,” such as Leicester’s Premier League run, Croatia’s World Cup run, and Tottenham’s attempt at the Champions League, always leave me speechless. But instead of wondering how it happens, I find myself glad that soccer has not succumbed to rhythmic predictability. When the strongest teams lose to the weakest, I am reminded that soccer is where the most spectacular miracles happen; I am reminded of my love for the sport.