Monaco vs Tottenham: Spurs must watch out for dangerman Radamel Falcao… and yes, Manchester United and Chelsea fans, you read that correctly

RADAMEL FALCAO will be Monaco’s dangerman against Spurs — and yes, Manchester United and Chelsea fans, you did read that correctly.

The striker struggled to find the pitch during his unsuccessful loan stints at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, let alone the net.

But the 30-year-old has rediscovered his scoring touch after returning to Monaco.

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And Tottenham will have to keep tabs on him in the Champions League tonight if they want to avoid an early exit from Europe’s elite competition.

It is a warning nobody could have predicted following the Colombian’s flop at Chelsea last season, when he scored only once in ten Premier League appearances.

Mind you, that made the previous campaign he spent at United look like a spectacular success as he netted four times in 26 top-flight outings for the Red Devils.

But, incredibly, he has seven for Monaco already this season, leaving his critics on the other side of the Channel scratching their heads and asking: What the hell has happened to him?

The simple answer is he has got himself fit again.

Falcao arrived at United less than half-fit and battling to recover from a knee injury.

The speed and intensity of the English game means it is no rehabilitation centre.

After being at United when they were in freefall under Louis van Gaal — or “transition” as some called it — he must have thought the footballing gods were smiling on him when champions Chelsea came calling in summer 2015.

Sadly, though, Falcao soon discovered his luck was not improving as the Blues put up one of the worst title defences in top-flight history under an unravelling Jose Mourinho, who found himself out of the door before Christmas.

With luck like that, you could have forgiven Falcao for returning to Monte Carlo. But a return to the bosom of his parent club Monaco has coincided with a change of fortune and improvement in performances.

He may not be the Falcao of old, the striker who terrorised defences for Porto, prompting Atletico Madrid to splash out £35million on him in 2011.

But he is on course to have his best season since joining Monaco for £52m two years later.

Part of this rejuvenation must be credited to Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim, who axed his 4-2-3-1 system for a 4-4-2 so Falcao receives the support up front he now requires.

United and Chelsea often refused to alter their subs’ bench to accommodate the star, so when a manager changes his system for you it is a big boost.

Jardim said: “The problem with Falcao was not only his knee injury, it was also the fact he left to play two seasons in Manchester and Chelsea.

“When a player is injured, normally they do not change club. It's not easy to recover and play along.

“Life always throws you a second chance. Falcao is a striker who needs to play.”