mawspurs
19-05-2010, 09:00 AM
Source: Voice-Online
LES FERDINAND has warned Tottenham’s euphoric fans that their celebrations for qualifying for the Champions League might be slightly premature.
The one-time Spurs’ idol enjoyed a six-year tenure at the club that incorporated a League Cup victory in 1999, and now works as a striking coach on Harry Redknapp’s backroom staff.
Tottenham edged out free-spending Manchester City to seal the coveted fourth place, courtesy of Peter Crouch’s winner at Eastlands in the make-or-break game between the two sides.
It means Spurs must now overcome a two-legged qualifying game in July before they can claim a place in the lucrative group stages, but as Everton proved in 2005 when they were beaten by Villarreal, it is not always a formality.
Ferdinand said: “The time to celebrate is when you get into the group stages. The fans are getting carried away and they have every right to, but the players and staff have to stay focused.
“The main aim for Tottenham was trying to break the monopoly of the top-four teams, and for the last few years people have been saying that we were the most likely team to do that.
“We have done that now, and that needs to be celebrated, but as far the Champions League goes, we are not there yet.”
Ferdinand, however, believes if Tottenham can cement their position as one of Europe’s elite teams, they may finally be able to hold onto their stellar players.
In recent seasons, Sol Campbell, Dimitar Berbatov and Teddy Sheringham have all left the club in pursuit of honours elsewhere, but that may now be a thing of the past.
He added: “We have to build on this now and start contesting the top four places year in year out. Once you start to establish yourself as a Champions League team that means we will be able to hold onto our better players.
“Traditionally, Spurs’ have been a team that attracted top players, but it was always a team that sold its best players too. For example, we lost Berbatov a couple of years ago. Now we are in a position where we can keep our best players and get better ones.”
LES FERDINAND has warned Tottenham’s euphoric fans that their celebrations for qualifying for the Champions League might be slightly premature.
The one-time Spurs’ idol enjoyed a six-year tenure at the club that incorporated a League Cup victory in 1999, and now works as a striking coach on Harry Redknapp’s backroom staff.
Tottenham edged out free-spending Manchester City to seal the coveted fourth place, courtesy of Peter Crouch’s winner at Eastlands in the make-or-break game between the two sides.
It means Spurs must now overcome a two-legged qualifying game in July before they can claim a place in the lucrative group stages, but as Everton proved in 2005 when they were beaten by Villarreal, it is not always a formality.
Ferdinand said: “The time to celebrate is when you get into the group stages. The fans are getting carried away and they have every right to, but the players and staff have to stay focused.
“The main aim for Tottenham was trying to break the monopoly of the top-four teams, and for the last few years people have been saying that we were the most likely team to do that.
“We have done that now, and that needs to be celebrated, but as far the Champions League goes, we are not there yet.”
Ferdinand, however, believes if Tottenham can cement their position as one of Europe’s elite teams, they may finally be able to hold onto their stellar players.
In recent seasons, Sol Campbell, Dimitar Berbatov and Teddy Sheringham have all left the club in pursuit of honours elsewhere, but that may now be a thing of the past.
He added: “We have to build on this now and start contesting the top four places year in year out. Once you start to establish yourself as a Champions League team that means we will be able to hold onto our better players.
“Traditionally, Spurs’ have been a team that attracted top players, but it was always a team that sold its best players too. For example, we lost Berbatov a couple of years ago. Now we are in a position where we can keep our best players and get better ones.”