Spurs looking to take chance of weak Europa League

National World - LocalTV

A new format that could help Spurs’ trophy ambitions.

Transcript

00:00James, looking at Spurs and the Europa League, now obviously a very telling couple of weeks

00:09where out of both the domestic tournaments in terms of the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup, despite

00:16decent runs in both and tough opponents in both, in the end for Ange-Pastekoglou's side

00:21and how stripped they've been with injuries and now they've got returning players, the

00:26Europa League now becomes of huge importance, we've obviously seen the protests, suggesting

00:32one trophy in 24 years with 16 managers, it's quite damning really. How important is this

00:39Europa League campaign and whether they are to go all the way and win it or not, but just

00:45sort of saving a bit of face, saving a bit of the season and maybe getting the fans something

00:50they want to watch and something to get them off their seats, maybe a long run or a run

00:54to the semi-finals at least or something like that, does change a bit of the scope

00:59of the season. How important is now the Europa League for Spurs?

01:03Well, I mean, the Europa League is absolutely massive for Spurs now. I think I said it previously

01:07that we just need to get safe in the league. I mean, that sounds a bit sort of extreme

01:12and a little bit dramatic, but let's get to 40 points, let's make sure we're not under

01:16any pressure or relegation and we're not looking over our shoulders and let's put everything

01:20then into the Europa League. If needs be, we could rest players in the Premier League

01:24because it's a massive opportunity. The draw has really opened up for us as well. We're

01:29still waiting to find out the opponents, but it will be one of Galatasaray, AZ, Miquel

01:34Andor, Real Sociedad. So, there's a couple of tough teams in there, but there's a couple

01:41that you take as well in the last 16 and all roads essentially lead to Bilbao. So, it's

01:48absolutely massive and you just referenced there 24 years, one trophy. I think there's

01:51been 15 semi-finals in that. So, we really have been the nearly men, if you like, over

01:58a number of years. We just can't get over the line and I've been to Wembley on a couple

02:02of occasions when we've been beaten in finals as well and not really turned up. The Champions

02:07League was a great example, wasn't it? Liverpool were there for the taking that night and Spurs

02:11just didn't do enough. They really were poor that night, really. We probably should have

02:17If ever there was a time to catch Liverpool on the cold and off night, it was then, but

02:22we just didn't do it. So, we've obviously failed again in the Carabao in the semi-finals,

02:27horrendous performance. So, we've got to now use that as fuel for this group of players

02:32and if we can get to another semi-final, quarter-final and really, really use that as fuel to push

02:38on because, as I say, it's there. The team's left in the competition, greatest respect.

02:43There's some good signs, but on Spurs' day with a fully-fit XI, would I expect Spurs

02:48to win? Yes, I would, absolutely. Obviously, the Holy Grail prize at the end of it is the

02:53Champions League and we've bolstered the squad as well. We've got Dan Sotel and Jed

02:58Spence in the Europa squad now. So, we've got better options and you've got to say Jed

03:04Spence has probably been one of the players of the season. He's been absolutely outstanding

03:07since he's been given a chance by Posta Koglu. Two or three managers overlooked him. He was

03:13an inverted commas club signing by Conte. Desirely signed a new contract before he'd

03:19even kicked a ball for Spurs and he's been absolutely brilliant. You'd probably argue

03:24on current form he's one of the best full-backs in the league and he's actually playing at

03:28left-back instead of right-back and I've heard a few murmurs of possible England call-ups

03:32for him this week. He's been really that impressive. So, that will definitely help us, having more

03:37options in the squad. We've just got to keep injury-free and, as I say, if we can get to

03:41that milestone of 40 points in the league, let's have a real go at it because, as I say,

03:46it could still be a very, very successful season. If we end up, despite everything and

03:51the turmoil and the off-pitch antics and the pressure on the manager and all the injuries,

03:56to come out with a trophy and win the Europa League would be absolutely outstanding. Every

04:01Spurs fan would say finishing 10th or 11th or even 12th or 13th in the league if it meant

04:05we won a trophy. So, yes, fingers crossed. Obviously, a long way to go but we're in with

04:10a huge chance.

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