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Spurs set sights on Europe as relegation fears ease
Tom Collomosse05.03.09
Aaron Lennon believes Tottenham can make an incredible return to European football after he scored twice in their 4-0 hammering of Middlesbrough last night.
Should Spurs win their game in hand at Sunderland on Saturday, they will be only five points adrift of seventh place. That will be good enough to secure a spot in next season's new Europa League — the replacement for the UEFA Cup — if a top-six club win the FA Cup.
Spurs are still only four points clear of the bottom three but their win over a poor Boro side was so emphatic that Harry Redknapp's men will be confident of pulling away from relegation trouble.
Lennon said: “Someone said after the game that we weren't far off seventh and it would be unbelievable if we could get that, especially after the start to the season when we had two points from eight games.
“The main thing at the moment is to keep us in the League, but we know we shouldn't be in this position with the players we have at the club.
“Every player is starting to play well. From the goalkeeper to the defenders and midfielders and through to the strikers, everyone is on form.”
The Premier League is so tight that Spurs will be dragged back into trouble if they lose at the Stadium of Light but the players are starting to show again the confidence they displayed immediately after Redknapp took over last October.
Lennon and Robbie Keane, who scored the first goal, were the outstanding performers for Spurs, with the Ireland international playing a significant part in each of Lennon's strikes and when Roman Pavlyuchenko doubled the home team's lead.
Keane was one of three players — Jermain Defoe and Pascal Chimbonda were the others — to return for second spells at the club in January and Lennon believes Redknapp's decision to re-sign the Irishman for £16million from Liverpool was a masterstroke.
The winger added: “It seems like he has never been away. He is someone who reads my game really well and he set me up for two goals against Middlesbrough.
“He is a great leader and a great player and having him back at the club has given everyone a boost.”
Redknapp believes Lennon now has a great chance of forcing his way back into Fabio Capello's England squad.
The 21-year-old has not played for his country in nearly two years but the Italian was watching last night and Redknapp said: “The little fella is flying.”
Reader views (11)
Europe is so far away I wouldn't even think about. Lets cross that bridge once we are mathematically out of the relegation dogfight!
- Mickey, Billericay
We also held Man U to a draw at Wembley. They may have resting players but we were without our best forward line, Woodgate and King in defence, so both sides were below strength. Be more positive. We are showing reslience and with Keane beginning to show some form, we can start to play with more belief. Middlesborough just came from beating Liverpool, so they may have been poor on the night but perhaps that was because Spurs were better.
- Stephen Rothbart, Prague Czech Republic
Everyone? I don't think so. Europe this season is a pipe-dream. Sometimes dreams do come true but in this case we'd have to get some pretty stunning results to achieve that.
As for getting carried away? Well, prior to the game with Boro' they were being talked-up because of beating both West Ham and Liverpool, both of whom are well above them. Beating them is one thing but by 4 - 0 is another.
- Steven Dale, London, England
Ha! Beating a team in the bottom three at home & suddenly we are world beaters! We still have to play Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa & Everton in our remaining matches! We are only 4 points off the 3rd from bottom club & have difficult matches away to Sunderland & Aston Villa, followed by a home game against Chelsea. Lets be thankful that we spent £50 million to avoid being relegated & not get carried away with a result against poor opposition.
- Rob Hotspurs, South London
Well my friend going out UEFA Cup, at least we can field a strong 11 and have a strong subs bench, next season no one will be cup tied!
3 points off 10th place, with Fulham not getting results, who knows!
Lennon great to see crossing improved!
- Adrian, london
Talk about getting carried away.They've been in the bottom half of the table ALL season,beat a poor Boro side and everyone's doing somersaults on the spot.
Dream on.
- Steve, London
Hang on, get into Europe? didn't they just throw the game away to get booted out of the same competition they want to get back into? How's that work?
- Kerry, Purley
The only way we are getting into Europe, is if we write a song !
- Paxton, N17
Just when i thought football couldnt get any worse, I hear that Tottenham are aiming for a European spot......after spending the entire season moaning about being in it, playing the reserves and telling all that will listen how it doesnt mean anything to them.
The funny thing is all these mug football fans fall for it!
- Lb, London
What is the point of Spurs being involved in Europe again after Harry Redknapp deliberately fielded a weakened team against Shakthar Donetsk?
Given the budget and resources available at Tottenham, any aspirations about becoming a "big club" means they must be able to sustain a Premier League and European campaign at the same time.
Martin Gross is now managing German league leader Hamburger after being sacked by Spurs, while Juande Ramos manages Real Madrid after suffering the same fate so it is no good blaming the managers for Spurs plight!
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK
Brilliant, they could get into (sub) Europe and then spend a few months moaning about how its not a priority.
- John Entwistle, Hertford
