Source: Telegraph
Ledley King warns against Tottenham Champions League hangover against Wolves
Tottenham were brought down to earth by a 1-0 home defeat to Wigan last month which came just three days after Harry Redknapp's men had secured a place in the lucrative group stages of Europe's elite club competition for the first time on an emotional night against Young Boys. [LNB]Having endured a rollercoaster ride in their opening tie against Werder Bremen in Germany, where the Barclays Premier League side had raced into an early two-goal lead only to draw, there is little respite before the visit of Wolves, who secured an unexpected 1-0 win in north London last season. [LNB] Related ArticlesCrouch: Spurs need not fear Champions LeaguePremier stars face a big test in keeping upWerder Bremen v Tottenham Hotspur: match previewLevy gives Spurs fans reality checkLuka Modric leg X-ray comes back all clearInjured Modric 'irreplaceable', says RedknappCentre-back King is determined things must be different this time around [LNB]''No disrespect to Wolves, but these are the games we need to win to build on last season,'' King said in the London Evening Standard. [LNB]''We are a good side at home - we try to win every home game. If we don't, of course, we will be disappointed. [LNB]''We don't really think about last season's result. [LNB]''It is a new season now and our disappointment comes from our last home performance against Wigan. [LNB]''We have learned a bit from that and we know teams will come to us and play the 4-5-1 system and it is difficult for us to break them down. [LNB]''But the way we started against Wigan was not good enough - we were sloppy. [LNB]''We will have to start a lot better against Wolves and try to get an early goal to change their tactics.'' [LNB]Redknapp has indicated he will have to consider utilising his whole squad as the Spurs boss juggles a top-flight European campaign for the first time. [LNB]King, who has long suffered his own fitness issues, maintains such demands are part and parcel of success at the highest level. [LNB]''Playing three games in a week is something we are going to have to deal with,'' he said. [LNB]''We have got a big squad full of talent. There is no reason why we shouldn't be able to adapt. [LNB]''We haven't done it so well in recent years with the Uefa Cup, but that is something we are going to have to get used to.'' [LNB]Redknapp maintains his mind is fully focussed on the job in hand this weekend - and expects the players to be the same. [LNB]''As far as I am concerned, Champions League is finished until we play again,'' the Tottenham manager said. [LNB]''I am only thinking about Wolves. I haven't got anything else in my mind. [LNB]''Wolves will work their socks off and they will be in our faces.'' [LNB]The Spurs boss is confident his squad will not make the same mistakes again this weekend. [LNB]''These games are hard after Champions League games, and that was probably the biggest lesson we learnt from the last game against Wigan,'' he said. [LNB]''We found ourselves struggling to beat Wigan, and Wolves will come on Saturday and make it difficult for us. [LNB]''After that, we play Arsenal in the Carling Cup on Tuesday, so we have got a lot of tough games to come.'' [LNB]Spurs will, meanwhile, monitor the fitness of deadline day signing Rafael van der Vaart, who was taken off at half-time against Bremen with a calf problem. [LNB]
