WATCHING Spurs is good for the soul. They make the little boy inside of you believe it is still possible to build a football club without blowing the budget.
Tottenhams giddy run to the Champions League semi-finals to play Ajax is a triumph for Daniel Levys ideology and a tribute to Mauricio Pochettino. They are perfectly aligned.
Their crazy Champions League win at Manchester City, knocking them out on away goals, is still reverberating around the world.
The drama of it, the madness that came with a game as chaotic and compelling as this, will be felt for years.
Beyond that, it was confirmation that money even Sheikh Mansours does not guarantee victory.
The extra cash Spurs earned on this run will come in handy but this is about fulfilment of an ambition, a dream, a strategic vision to do it different to the rest.
They are the template for the modern-day club: progressive, aspirational, commanding instant respect.
Barnstorming wins over Borussia Dortmund, Inter and City, plus the notable draw in Barcelona, adds to their appeal.
Along with the new stadium and training ground envy, knitting together this unique squad of players is an outstanding achievement.
To keep them sweet when they are being linked constantly with moves to Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United is a gift.
Then there is Poch, the man who could have gone to Real (twice) or United (twice), but opted to stay with Spurs.
They have something special as they charge towards their date with destiny.
RESISTED TEMPTATION
Nobody was talking Champions League participation fees or bonuses after Raheem Sterlings ghost goal was ruled out by VAR.
Instead, it was about a barmy night, the shock and awe of watching a second leg as demented as this. It happens, from time to time.
Spurs will be admired the world over for it. There is nothing grubby or shady about the way they have gone about their business.
They make you realise it is not all about cash and salaries and adding another nought to a transfer fee to get a player.
That is Citys default, relying on the unlimited wealth of their Abu Dhabi owners to beef up their squad, whenever required.
Levy has resisted the temptation to over-stretch, to cave in to the demands that come with being chairman of a leading club.
Although he claimed otherwise at the opening of their 1billion stadium, Levy is a super- sensitive soul.
In the fallow years, when he was busting balls trying to find the right blend, the right coach, and obsessing with developing CL footballers, fans battered him.
It took a man of iron will to stay true to his beliefs. Levy has fought cleanly, and fairly.
You do not wake up every morning wondering whether Spurs will be the next Football Leaks victim, or dragged through the gutter in another Der Spiegel splash.
Spurs have a wage bill of 148m (Citys is 259m), pre-tax profits of 138.9m but you will never see footage of Uefa officials carting boxes out of Lilywhite House. There are no flies on them.
When they face Ajax in a two-legged semi- final, there will be reflections and respect for these clubs principled, holistic approach.
Ajax, with the influence of legendary Dutch coach Rinus Michels still being felt throughout the club, have done it all in-house again.
Frenkie de Jong, Donny van de Beek, Matthijs de Ligt were developed at their fabled De Toekomst academy.
Spurs are committed to bringing through some of their own, with Kyle-Walker Peters, Oliver Skipp and Harry Winks featuring regularly in the matchday squad.
They are two games away from meeting Barcelona or Liverpool in a Champions League final in Madrid.
In a monied, heavily commercialised era, it represents remarkable progress.
STAT LIFE
JUST when you think Manchester City and Tottenham are dead certs to play out a 0-0 draw tomorrow at the Etihad, a stat says otherwise.
The last draw in the Premier League was more than a month ago, when Matt Ritchie scored the 90th-minute equaliser for Newcastle in their 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.
That was 32 days ago, the longest run of games without clubs sharing a point apiece since the Premier League began.
The number of draws has declined over the years, from 31 per cent in 1993-94 to just 17 per cent this season.
It suggests a more adventurous approach at the top level, with a shift towards more attack-minded football.
City and Spurs, exhausted from their epic Champions League quarter-final, go again in the Premier League. Just dont expect the same drama.
NOU WAY TO BEHAVE
THE modern mentality at Manchester United was neatly summed up by Joel and Avram Glazer goofing around taking selfies at the Nou Camp.
The pair were marvelling at the stadium and taking a cringey souvenir photo with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the night before their 3-0 Champions League pasting.
Big clubs behave differently but seeing giddy United execs taking tourist pics is another negative.
COPS' TUNNEL VISION
SOUTH YORKSHIRE police wasted an awful lot of manpower and time appealing for witnesses to an alleged assault in the Oakwell tunnel on Saturday.
They could have spared themselves the bother by starting their line of inquiry with the 22 players, subs and endless coaching staff from hosts Barnsley and Fleetwood in the tunnel area after the 4-2 Tykes victory. Just a thought, fellas.
Tottenham players and manager go wild in dressing room after beating Manchester City