Source: Daily_Mail
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe out to change the script in Champions League crunch
[LNB]Fighting fit: Jermain Defoe and Younes Kaboul share a joke ahead of the clash against Young Boys[LNB]Jermain Defoe is fedup with sitting on thesofa and watching EastEnders on a Tuesdaynight. [LNB]The Tottenhamstriker is hungry for ChampionsLeague football instead. [LNB]For the 27-year-old to swap theEastEnders theme tune for thespine-tingling strains of the ChampionsLeague music, Tottenhammust beat Young Boys at hometonight. [LNB]Only a win will guaranteeSpurs the £30million windfall thatcomes with qualification to thegroup stage of Europe's elite clubcompetition as they look to recover a 3-2 first-leg deficit. [LNB]Defoe said: 'From a boyI've always watchedChampions Leaguegames. It's the place tobe as a footballer.[LNB]'I want to play againstthe best defenders in theworld: Carles Puyol atBarcelona, playing againstReal Madrid at the Bernabeuand places like that especially when youlook at our squad andthink we're good enoughto play on that stage. [LNB]'On Tuesday nights youdon't want to be at homewatching EastEnders you want to be at WhiteHart Lane playing fantasticteams.[LNB]'It's one of the biggestgames of my career. Everyonewants to play in theChampions League. Youdon't want to freeze likeEverton did (when theylost 4-2 to Villarreal in theplay-offs in 2005) andthen not get near it again. [LNB] Daunting opponent: Defoe fancies his chances against Barcelona hero Carles Puyol[LNB]'I believe when you getthe opportunities in lifeyou have to grab them.' [LNB]The message from HarryRedknapp was equallystark. The Tottenhamboss remembers being atWhite Hart Lane in September1961 when Spursoverturned a 4-2 first-legdeficit against GornikZabrze and won 8-1, butthere was little room forsentimentality yesterday. [LNB]'If we can't win this wedon't deserve to be in thecompetition,' he said. [LNB]'Wehave got to win adraw's no good. I don't think about themoney. It would be a greathonour to get the clubinto the group stages andthe fans would love it. Ourpride is at stake and we want to get there. [LNB]Life saver: Roman Pavlyuchenko's goal in Berne gave Spurs a good chance of progressing[LNB]'It wouldbe fantastic to bring thatto White Hart Lane. It was a great atmospherethere in those days.I remember Bobby Smithbattering the Polish goalkeeper. [LNB]'They were greatnights and great atmospheresso we want Europeannights here.'The place will be jumpingand that will be a bigthing in our favour. Wehave to move the ball,play with pace. [LNB]'We've gotto swarm all over themfrom the start. If we playas we can play it will bedifficult not to win.' [LNB]Defoe has an addedincentive this evening.The striker, who is set toplay tonight despite aniggling groin injury, hasnot scored a competitivegoal for Tottenham sincethe 2-1 win over Chelseaon April 17. [LNB]Next week he will havean operation under thesame German surgeonwho looked after AlanHutton this week. [LNB]Defoe will missEngland's Euro 2012qualifiers next month andprobably Tottenham'sPremier League clashesagainst West BromwichAlbion and Wolves. [LNB]Redknapp said: 'He hasdried up but I think thatthis might be the nightfor him to come back witha bang and start scoringa few. [LNB]'Sixty minutes is aboutas much as he can last. Hewants to play and trainbut he has got to have itdone. The pain is gettingworse each game.' [LNB]Tottenham slippedthree goals behind in adizzying first 28 minutesin Berne a fortnight agoand looked to be asunsuited to ChampionsLeague football as theywere to Young Boys'artificial pitch. [LNB] Booby prize: Defoe doesn't want to watch EastEnders on a week night anymore[LNB]Redknapp said his decisionto set up his side toattack may have been 'abit of a mistake' and Defoesaid he thought Spurs'4-4-2 formation had struggledagainst Young Boys'five-man midfield. [LNB]But thestriker slapped down suggestionsthat they lackedbelief or were overawedby the situation. [LNB]'I don't understand whypeople say we bottle it,'he said. [LNB]'Who's going tobottle it? Look at theplayers we have got. There are no nerves. [LNB]'It's like when you areyoung and your mumbuys you your first pair ofboots before your firstgame. You're buzzing tobe out there.' [LNB]As long as it's not Albert Square.[LNB] Jack Wilshere in England snub as Stuart Pearce calls Arsenal youngster up to Under-21 squadWoodgate going under the knife in final bid to save Spurs careerHands off, Spurs! Pienaar isn't for sale, say Everton amid Crouch talk[LNB]
