Jermain Defoe reacts to what Harry Redknapp has said about Tottenham
Tottenham are ready for their last-chance saloon after the international break, as they enter the final stages of the Europa League.
Ange Postecoglou’s men beat AZ Alkmaar over two legs in the last 16 and will now face Bundesliga high-flyers Frankfurt in the quarter-finals.
Spurs host the Germans on 10 April, before travelling to face Dino Toppmoller’s side at Deutsche Bank Park a week later.
The Europa League presents Tottenham with their only chance to clinch silverware this term after their previous exits from both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup amid their lowly Premier League position.
Jermain Defoe dubs Tottenham as Europa League ‘favourites’
Jermain Defoe scored 143 goals in 363 Spurs appearances and he has now weighed in on his former club’s chances of winning the Europa League.
| Jermain Defoe | Tottenham stats |
| Appearances | 363 |
| Goals | 143 |
He told Sky Sports Football [24 March]: “It’s been a difficult season, but saying that it’s still an opportunity to win a trophy, and a big trophy.
“Hopefully, we can get over the line and do that. But it has been a hard watch, of course. Everyone will say that, the players have said it, the manager has said it.
“But, an opportunity to win a trophy, so we’ll see what happens.
“I’ve listened to loads of ex-players and Harry Redknapp say ‘what an opportunity’, probably the favourites to win it.
“It’s been a long time (since Spurs won a trophy), 2008, so if we can do that for the players, the club, the fans. Everyone deserves it.”
Frankfurt are major threat to Tottenham’s Europa League chances
Amid a difficult domestic campaign, Postecoglou is under increasing pressure, while Spurs have already identified both Fulham’s Marco Silva and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola as potential successors.
But if Postecoglou can deliver Spurs the Europa League title, which would be their first trophy since 2008, then he will surely retain his place in the dugout in North London.
Tottenham have done well to negotiate their way to the Europa League quarter-finals and will now fancy their chances of winning silverware.
However, Frankfurt present themselves as difficult quarter-final opponents and deservedly sit fourth in the Bundesliga, level on points with third-place Mainz.
Toppmoller’s side also enjoy the services of prolific forward Hugo Ekitike, who has notched three goals and three assists in 10 Europa League appearances this term.
Ekitike also scored a hat-trick for the France Under-21s against Lee Carsley’s England in the current international break, further demonstrating his threat.
All eyes are on the Europa League.