Lamela: Spurs still aiming for top four

Erik Lamela has made it very clear that Tottenham Hotspur are not simply aiming for a top five finish this season.

The 28-year-old was one of Spurs’ better performers with his dogged display against Manchester United in both clubs’ return to Premier League football on Friday night.

The draw leaves Tottenham six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who have a game in hand, and still four behind United.

Manchester City will find out next month whether their appeal against a ban from the Champions League and European football next season has been successful.

If it is not then fifth place will be good enough for a spot in the Champions League.

However, Lamela has been taking a leaf out of the book of head coach Jose Mourinho and is refusing to lower his sights.

“No we have to aim for the top four, try to win every game. There are plenty of opportunities ahead,” he said when asked if the top five was a target now.

“We have to take it game by game but that is our plan [to make the top four].”

Lamela reflected on the strange nature of the 1-1 draw against United, played out in a behind closed doors atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“It was strange to play with no fans. Normally we have a full stadium with most of our fans behind us and it is always special to play at home, but it was different tonight,” he admitted.

“Maybe [there is less of a home advantage]. Without fans it is different. We have to get used to it, have the right mentality to be able to play in this environment, and give our best, even without fans in the stadium.”

With the players returning to football after three matches, Lamela reckons there is plenty do be done to improve their fitness and match sharpness.

“I think everyone can do better. It is difficult after two or three months without games to come back at full fitness,” he said.

“It is the start of a new period, like the start of a new season, and the first game back is always hard.”

For Harry Kane, Moussa Sissoko, Son Heung-min and Steven Bergwijn, the break has been longer with the first two in particular having not played a competitive match since New Year’s Day.

“I thought they did well. When you have had an injury it takes some time to get back to 100 per cent, but they gave everything and did well,” said Lamela.

“It was a really difficult game against a good opponent. We scored first and could have won but we conceded one penalty and could have lost.”

Next up for Tottenham is a London derby against West Ham United on Tuesday night.

“They are all big games now. We will try to win every one of them until the end of the season,” said Lamela.

“It is another opportunity to win three points and put ourselves in a better position in the table.”

Jose Mourinho could well shuffle his pack for a second match in four days after so long away from the game, but Lamela was not being drawn on that.

“That is a question for the manager, not us players, but everybody wants to play,” he admitted.

(Football London)

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