Source: Daily_Mail
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe out to change the script in Champions League crunch
Fighting fit: Jermain Defoe and Younes Kaboul share a joke ahead of the clash against Young BoysJermain Defoe is fedup with sitting on thesofa and watching EastEnders on a Tuesdaynight. The Tottenhamstriker is hungry for ChampionsLeague football instead. For the 27-year-old to swap theEastEnders theme tune for thespine-tingling strains of the ChampionsLeague music, Tottenhammust beat Young Boys at hometonight. 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. Defoe said: 'From a boyI've always watchedChampions Leaguegames. It's the place tobe as a footballer.'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. 'On Tuesday nights youdon't want to be at homewatching EastEnders you want to be at WhiteHart Lane playing fantasticteams.'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. Daunting opponent: Defoe fancies his chances against Barcelona hero Carles Puyol'I believe when you getthe opportunities in lifeyou have to grab them.' 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. 'If we can't win this wedon't deserve to be in thecompetition,' he said. '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. Life saver: Roman Pavlyuchenko's goal in Berne gave Spurs a good chance of progressing'It wouldbe fantastic to bring thatto White Hart Lane. It was a great atmospherethere in those days.I remember Bobby Smithbattering the Polish goalkeeper. '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. 'We've gotto swarm all over themfrom the start. If we playas we can play it will bedifficult not to win.' 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. Next week he will havean operation under thesame German surgeonwho looked after AlanHutton this week. Defoe will missEngland's Euro 2012qualifiers next month andprobably Tottenham'sPremier League clashesagainst West BromwichAlbion and Wolves. Redknapp said: 'He hasdried up but I think thatthis might be the nightfor him to come back witha bang and start scoringa few. '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.' 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. Booby prize: Defoe doesn't want to watch EastEnders on a week night anymoreRedknapp 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. But thestriker slapped down suggestionsthat they lackedbelief or were overawedby the situation. 'I don't understand whypeople say we bottle it,'he said. 'Who's going tobottle it? Look at theplayers we have got. There are no nerves. 'It's like when you areyoung and your mumbuys you your first pair ofboots before your firstgame. You're buzzing tobe out there.' As long as it's not Albert Square. 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