Title bid for Tottenham Hotspur?
Tottenham’s latest victory over Liverpool at the weekend has led to midfielder Luka Modric’s claim that Tottenham may lay their hands on the title if they keep winning games. The Spurs player released a statement to the press on
Monday 29th, saying that “Everything is possible!” Tottenham last won the English Premier League title in 1961 and since then witnessed a dramatic surge in form.
Harry Redknapp’s team beat Liverpool on the last minute before injury time in a theatrical way, despite the Reds going one up through a goal by Martin Skrtel on the stroke of half time. Ironically, it was Skrtel who scored an own
goal to put Redknapp’s team on level in the 65th minute. Aaron Lennon tucked one in past Pepe Reina on the 90th minute to give the North London team an emphatic victory over Roy Hodgson’s men. Spurs faithful could be forgiven, if any
thought that their team would not fare well against the Reds, after the Dutch player, Rafael Van der Vaart was replaced by Jermain Defoe in the 12th minute.
Van der Vaart has been a key player this season for the Spurs, and reports have emerged that the attacking midfielder has sustained a hamstring injury and may be unfit for a month. Despite losing their playmaker and failing to
convert a penalty into a goal, the Spurs went on to claim the 2-1 win at White Hart Lane. Defoe, who can be credited with the missed penalty, had been stripped of his ‘penalty taking duties in January’ and the white outfit has already failed to score four
times this season through penalties.
The Spurs may have lost a little confidence over their penalty taking abilities, but have drawn immense praise from fans and critics alike for their spirit and ‘never say never’ attitude. Tottenham have gone on to snatch five wins
and claimed one draw after coming back from behind in six games so far this season, out of which five have been victories.
The most memorable for the faithful at White Hart Lane would be their triumph over local rivals, Arsenal, in a match that can be considered as a true testament to the players donning the white outfit. Both Arsenal goals were scored
before half time, with Samir Nasri succeeding in finding the net in only the 9th minute and Marouane Chamakh boosting their lead to two in the 27th minute. Tottenham’s ‘wonder-boy’ Gareth Bale, who has been a revelation for the Spurs
this season, gave the visitors a goal in the 50th minute, which subsequently drew belief from the team that they could gain at least a point from the game. Van der Vaart scored from a penalty in the 67th minute, to turn that belief into
reality, and Younes Kaboul’s goal followed in the 85th minute, to convert the reality into a dream win for the Spurs.
Tottenham have been exceptional in the UEFA Champions League this season, beating the Champions League title defenders, Inter Milan, FC Twente and Werder Bremen. Redknapp’s men now sit on top of their Group A table, with ten points,
hovering above Benitez’s Inter Milan, on goal difference. Critics call this an exceptional feat by the Champions League debutants. The North London team have now cruised into the knockout round of the competition in which only 16 of Europe’s most successful
teams will feature.
The Croatian international, Luka Modric has spoken about the high morale at White Hart Lane, exclaiming, “It was a great result for us. We needed to be better in the first half, we were sloppy but we also created chances.
In the second half we were much, much better and the goal lifted us. Azza then scored a great goal.
It showed again that we have character, great spirit, we never give up and always fight to the last minute.
It’s good to know that when you are down, you can turn it around.
We never lose confidence when we’re losing, we know we can come back and we’ve showed that many times. It’s good to know we can do that.”
With belief and moral running through the veins of every player at White Hart Lane, critics have certainly turned an eye towards the Spurs and evaluated their claim to land the title, in what the Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger even
claims is the most ‘open season he has yet seen in all his years as in charge of the Gunners. Modric further echoed Redknapp’s sentiment on the 29th of November, by saying “We have enough potential to be champions of England. But of course it is
on us to take what we can take.” Tottenham sit on the fifth position in the Barclays Premier League table and face Birmingham next on 4th December at St. Andrews.
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