Source: Team_Talk
Spurs cautious despite ideal draw
Tottenham are taking nothing for granted after being handed the easiest possible route to the Champions League proper.[LNB] Spurs' first European Cup match for almost half a century will be against Swiss side Young Boys following today's play-off round draw in Nyon.[LNB]The two-leg tie was a dream pairing for Harry Redknapp's side, who avoided much trickier clashes with the likes of Dynamo Kiev, Sampdoria, Auxerre and Braga.[LNB]But club secretary Darren Eales insisted reaching the competition's lucrative group stage was not a foregone conclusion, with Young Boys having stunned Fenerbahce in the previous round.[LNB]Speaking on Sky Sports News from Nyon, Eales said: "I don't think there was a perfect draw.[LNB]"All five teams that have got through are obviously quality sides."[LNB]He added of Young Boys: "We saw them play against Fenerbahce - that was a great result for them to win 1-0 in Turkey.[LNB]"So we know it's going to be a tough game but we're excited about it and looking forward to hopefully getting into the Champions League group stages."[LNB]Eales did admit he was happy to have avoided Dynamo, saying: "With Dynamo Kiev, there's the travel aspect.[LNB]"In that respect, we're going to Switzerland; it's not so far to travel. That's obviously a positive.[LNB]"I think the other thing that we'll be pleased about is that we're playing at home second leg - that's always an advantage."[LNB]Indeed, the first leg will take place in Berne on Tuesday, August 17, with the return in London the following Wednesday.[LNB]Describing the current mood around White Hart Lane, Eales said: "I just joined the club on July 1 and you can imagine the excitement and the buzz around the place.[LNB]"We've got a real chance to get into the group stages, a chance for our fans to experience football, perhaps against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, or Barcelona or the Milans.[LNB]"We're keeping our feet on the ground but, obviously, we're really hoping that we can get through."[LNB]Eales revealed reaching the group stage was unlikely to result in a larger transfer kitty for Redknapp and refused to comment on speculation linking several big names with moves to Spurs.[LNB]He added: "We'll be doing our best to get some transfer activity but we'll just have to wait and see."[LNB]Tottenham's last foray in Europe's premier club competition came in the 1961-62 season.[LNB]Last term saw them finally fulfil their ambition of breaking into the Barclays Premier League top four, thereby securing a coveted Champions League spot.[LNB]Spurs have never played Swiss runners-up Young Boys, who are well into their domestic season, which kicked off on July 17, although they have failed to win any of their opening three games.[LNB]Their squad includes an Enfield-born Spurs fan in Scott Sutter, who moved to Switzerland aged 16.[LNB]Tottenham's only previous European meeting with Swiss opposition ended in a 9-1 aggregate win over Grasshoppers in the 1973-74 UEFA Cup.[LNB]Young Boys sporting director Alain Baumann admitted his side had been handed the toughest possible draw.[LNB]"We are happy to play Tottenham," he said. "For Young Boys, it's a good draw but the hardest. For the spectacle, it's the best.[LNB]"We beat Fenerbahce but I think Tottenham are more difficult for us.[LNB]"We hope to have a little chance and this chance we will need to take."[LNB]"Tottenham is a name in the world like Liverpool or Chelsea, so for us it's big, big game."
