Spurs resume their chase of the fourth Champions League place with a testing north London derby in the wake of their FA Cup semi-final defeat
Tottenham Hotspur have form when it comes to feeling queasy with a Champions League finish in sight. Mention lasagne to their supporters and watch the colour drain from their faces, although it ought to be repeated that the pasta was cleared, after a forensic inquiry, of causing the stomach bug that caught the players short on the final day of the 2005-06 season at West Ham United.
It is Tottenham’s run-in that is causing the flutters this time. Spurs have enjoyed an encouraging season, during which they have suggested, for the first time since the near miss under Martin Jol four years ago, that they can take the giant stride into Europe’s elite competition. But now they face the acid test, a sequence of fixtures which could hardly have been more difficult had they been hand-picked.
First is tonight’s derby against Arsenal at White Hart Lane and then comes another, also at home, against Chelsea on Saturday before what the manager, Harry Redknapp, joked was “another easy game at Old Trafford” against Manchester United the following Saturday. Tottenham, four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City in fifth with a game in hand, will travel to Eastlands in the penultimate match of the season, in between fixtures against Bolton Wanderers at home and Burnley away.
The Tottenham fans with their pint-pots half full consider the City game as the opportunity to overhaul them, if their team can hang in there until then. City have to play United and Aston Villa at home as well as Arsenal away and face West Ham on the final day. Tottenham demonstrated they could be superior to City when they beat them 3-0 in December. Why should they fall short now?
There are plenty of pessimists, though, in the White Hart Lane stands – they would call themselves realists – and they have started to steel themselves for an anticlimax. The mood among them is downbeat after the shock FA Cup semi-final defeat by Portsmouth on Sunday, the latest instance of Tottenham frustrating, and, w. Were the big four to be penetrated this season, it would stick in their throats if it were not by them.
Tottenham’s Premier League record against Arsenal under Arsène Wenger is dismal. In 27 meetings they have one win and 13 defeats. But Redknapp spent the aftermath of the Portsmouth disappointment saying that derby was the perfect match in which to bounce back – “If I had to choose any game, I’d choose Arsenal at home,”– and he believes a victory could ignite the club’s push for fourth place.
“We’ve still got a chance,” he said. “The Arsenal game is vital but, if we get a win, we’re right in it again. They are a good side but they are not unbeatable. There is no reason why we can’t beat them. If we get a good start to our run-in, it carries you on into the Chelsea game. City are favourites [for fourth] no doubt, but it’s still to play for.”
If the season were to end immediately, Redknapp said his squad could feel proud, particularly as it has been hit hard by injuries. Aaron Lennon, who has not played since 28 December because of a groin problem, has suffered his latest setback and Redknapp said he did not know how long the winger would be sidelined, which sounded ominous for his World Cup hopes with England. “He felt sore after training [on Monday],” Redknapp said. “We just have to keep our fingers crossed.” Niko Kranjcar is out with an ankle injury and Vedran Corluka is a major doubt, also with ankle trouble. Wilson Palacios begins a two-game suspension.
Tottenham reached the Carling Cup quarter-finals, where they lost to United, to go with their FA Cup semi-final and, with their league season still alive, it would be interesting to know how many of their supporters would have signed up in August for such a return. Redknapp says the vast majority would have done, as he continued to preach the values of patience and perspective.
“I think it’s been a terrific season for us, a blinding season,” he said. “We’ve been right up there and we’ve played some great football. We’ve improved. Look at players like Gareth Bale. Is there a better left-sided player in the country? We’ve got a lot of players who can only get better, like Lennon and Tom Huddlestone. Michael Dawson and Sébastien Bassong have done great. We’ll only keep improving.”
Redknapp believes the gap to Arsenal has become “much closer” and “we’ll be closer again next year”. “It’s not impossible that we could finish above them in the longer term,” he said. “It’s a possibility. It’s not a massive gap any more. We’ve got terrific players and we can be playing them up there next year.”
In the meantime, however, there is the most important north London derby in years. All eyes are on the Lane.
Tottenham HotspurArsenalHarry RedknappPremier LeagueDavid Hytnerguardian.co.uk
