Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has defended the status of the Europa League and believes that the competition is an opportunity, not punishment.
The former Porto and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 manager lifted the trophy two seasons ago with Porto as he led the club to the Portuguese quadruple. He believes the competition should be shown more respect by English managers and clubs.
Tottenham took on Panathinaikos last night in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Greece-c2908 and salvaged an away draw as a late equalizer from Toche denied Spurs the victory.
This will obviously be seen as a setback by Villas-Boas, but he will still find comfort in the fact that Tottenham are now on a run of 6 undefeated games in all competitions.
Villas-Boas has stressed upon the importance of winning the competition, and last week stated that he believes it remains a realistic target for the club. Having won it with Porto, he would like nothing more to bring the trophy to White Hart Lane and end
their trophy drought.
Spurs had grabbed a popular and historic win this past weekend against former English champions Manchester United. This was the first time Spurs won at Old Trafford since 1989, but despite the victory, the Portuguese manager insisted that the Premier League
is not a realistic challenge, and that he is targeting a top four finish this season.
Speaking about the Europa League, Villas-Boas admitted his confusion and surprise at the treatment it receives in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749.
"The profile of the competition is raised in other countries, but not England," Villas-Boas told reporters.
"I don't understand it. I'm also not in a position to criticise other managers' approach to the competition. But ask my goalkeeping coach http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Tony-c35440 Parks about when he won the UEFA Cup [the predecessor to the Europa League] with our club in 1984.”
"When English clubs were later banned from Europe, it was every single club's ambition to play in European competitions. I respect the competition. I certainly think it is viewed as a punishment in England and I cannot understand why. It is a traditional trophy."
Tottenham’s last Europa game ended in a draw at home against Italian outfit http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lazio-c39775. This is their second draw in the group J, and they currently lie in 3rd spot with 2 points.
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