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Jan Vertonghen has revealed that Tottenham Hotspur had no idea that they were going to be sent into the Champions League semi-finals by an amazing VAR decision, per Goal.

Manchester City thought they had beaten Spurs at the Etihad Stadium, with Raheem Sterling completing his hat-trick in injury time, only to see it ruled out.

What’s the word?

Spurs took a 1-0 lead into the game at the Etihad Stadium and a modern classic unfolded, leaving supporters of both sides breathless.

Both sides traded four goals in the opening 11 minutes before Sterling scored to give City a 3-2 lead just after the 20th minute. A Sergio Aguero goal then gave City the aggregate advantage, only for Fernando Llorente to swing the tie back Spurs’ way.

Sterling, thought he had won it in injury time, slotting Aguero’s cut-back past Hugo Lloris; Aguero, however, was offside in the build-up and VAR subsequently ruled the goal out.

Vertonghen, though, says Spurs did not even have the slightest inclination that the Argentine was offside, with a semi-final clash with Dutch giants Ajax now looming.

"It was crazy, madness, absolute madness. You don't know anything and it's a weird feeling," Vertonghen said.

"No-one was even appealing for offside, we all thought they had scored. Everyone was on the floor, but there was still two or three minutes left.

"So it was 'let's try and get the ball in the box and we will see whatever happens'. And then out of nothing, the referee came up with VAR. We didn't even know."

An omen

This was a game that had genuinely everything, with Spurs ultimately progressing to their first European Cup semi-final in over 50 years.

VAR has gone against them before – City’s Fernandinho should probably have been sent off in the first leg for an elbow on Harry Kane – but Spurs are now indebted to the technology.

All the great triumphs in football need that little bit of luck.

That Vertonghen says that Spurs were not even bothering to appeal for an offside tells you everything.

They were given a last-minute reprieve akin to resuscitation. They must now ensure they do not waste it, with Spurs, amazingly, now just three wins away from Champions League glory.