Source: Team_Talk
Dawson 'hungry' for top four
Michael Dawson insists Spurs are still targeting a top-four finish this season after enjoying their first taste of Champions League football.[LNB] Spurs overcame the likes of AC and Inter Milan on what was their debut campaign in the tournament last season to reach the quarter-finals, where they were ultimately ousted by Real Madrid. [LNB]However, the North Londoners failed to book a spot in the continental competition for the second successive year, missing out on a top-four Premier League finish to Arsenal. [LNB]Manager Harry Redknapp has admitted that Spurs might not be able to keep up with their big-spending rivals this season, with Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool expected to be battling it out to finish in the top four. [LNB]But captain Dawson refuses to give up on the prospect of clawing back a spot in club football's top competition. [LNB]"We're aiming to be in the top four, we've been in it, and the lads are hungry to be in it again," Dawson told The Independent. [LNB]"Of course you're disappointed not to be in the Champions League. It's where you want to be playing, and you speak to the fans - we travelled with thousands everywhere we went and they loved it as much as the players. [LNB]"You want to be playing against the best players but you've got to earn the right to be back there."[LNB]Dawson believes Spurs have already proved that they can hold their own against their top-four rivals. [LNB]"We were 2-0 down to Arsenal (last season) and came back to win 3-2," he said. "We had a little dip towards the end of the season, but we showed character by winning at Liverpool 2-0, where we haven't won for a long time, and finishing fifth. [LNB]"We're going to these places where maybe five or six years ago we weren't getting wins, so we're moving forward. [LNB]"We know it's going to be tough, but we've got top players and we'll be giving it our all this year."
