Source: Daily_Mail
Jermain Defoe desperate to reach Champions League group stage
Jermain Defoe wants to hear the Champions League music at White Hart Lane on a Tuesday night - instead of being tucked up at home watching TV. [LNB]Tottenham play Swiss side Young Boys in the second leg of their Champions League play-off and must overturn a 3-2 deficit to progress to the group stage. [LNB] The striker said: 'On Tuesday nights you don't want to be at home watching Eastenders - you want to be at White Hart Lane playing fantastic teams. [LNB] [LNB] Eyes on the prize: Defoe (right) is determined to mix it with Europe's elite teams [LNB]'It's massive. It's one of the biggest games of my career. Everyone wants to play in the Champions League.' [LNB]Asked whether Everton's demise after their failure to qualify for the Champions League group stages five years ago was a warning, Defoe said: 'Naturally. It would be a massive disappointment (if we didn't make it).[LNB] 'I keep saying it's going to be a difficult game because they are a good side, but we have some great players. We have players who can come in and do the same job. [LNB]'Being at home, the crowd's going to be buzzing. We weren't overawed (in the first leg last week), but I think the system that they play - with five in midfield - was always going to be difficult to play against, especially as we played 4-4-2 against them.' [LNB]Preparation: Redknapp (left) and Joe Jordan put the Spurs players through their paces on Tuesday[LNB]Midfielder Luka Modric will miss the tie and new signing William Gallas is not yet match fit. [LNB]Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said: 'It's a big game but we've played lots of big games. [LNB]'We're at home and we're a fantastic team when we play well at home,If we play as well as we can then we're going to be very difficult toplay. [LNB]'We've got to swarm all over them from the start -press them, close them down and put them under real pressure if we can.But it won't be easy. [LNB] 'If we can't win then we don'tdeserve to be in the competition. We've got to win and we'll find outtomorrow how good we are. [LNB]'I knew before the game (lastweek) it was going to be a tough night. I had the feeling all day. Iwas very apprehensive about the game - and it's not often I have thatfeeling.[LNB] 'I knew the players weren't happy on the pitch. At 3-0you could see 4-0, 5-0, 6-0 so we did well to get a goal back. Thatgave us a big lift and we were about to get back in the game. Butthey're dangerous opposition - they went to Fenerbahce and won. [LNB]'It's a big, big game. It'll be a difficult game but we've givenourselves a big chance now with those two goals. After 30 minutes itlooked like it would be "good night", but we've given ourselves achance now.'[LNB] Everton to use Pienaar as makeweight in deal to sign Tottenham's CrouchSign up to our FREE Fantasy Football game - with £40,000 in prize money up for grabsSpurs are just champion! Ex-Gunner Gallas eyes Premier League titleStoke City 1 Tottenham 2: 'Baby' Bale is a volley good grown-up now TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC
