|
|
Emmanuel Adebayor believes Tottenham can challenge for title as rivals lose players to Africa Cup of Nations
The striker feels Spurs can get the edge on some of the teams competing for the title when they are depleted during January, and urges his side to make most of light run of games
26 Dec 2011 10:59:00
By Arthur Virgo
Getty Images
Emmanuel Adebayor believes Tottenham are still challenging for the Premier League title, and hopes they can capitalise on the withdrawals suffered by their rivals due to the Africa Cup of Nations.
The tournament takes place in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea from January to February. Chelsea forwards Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, Arsenal attackers Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh are all expected to be involved, and Manchester City brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure are all expected to be involved and unavailable for their clubs.
Spurs are currently nine points behind leaders Manchester City with a game in hand, but when asked if they could still win the title, Adebayor told reporters: "Why not? Manchester City are first at the moment but they still have to play all the big clubs because we've only had the first half of the season.
“That is what is going to be over very soon, and then we attack January. Are City going to keep playing their football the way they are now right up until the end of the season?
"We will have to wait and see. But, while we have everyone here, they have two players going to the African Cup of Nations. Kolo Toure is not playing a lot but he is a great player for them. Yaya Toure has been amazing for them this year. So I don't know.”
He added: “We all know they [Manchester City] have a great team with a great team spirit and, at the moment, they are playing good football. But, if they get a couple of injuries, I think it would be very difficult for them.
“In football you can suffer two or three injuries in a week – that has happened to us with Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon.”
Tottenham have only lost once since being beaten in the opening two matches of their season, and they face no title contenders until they travel to the Etihad on January 22.
Adebayor went on to underline the importance of Spurs' fixture list, commenting: "I'm not saying they are going to be easy games but, if you want to be in the top four, those are the types of games that you have to win, home or away.
"We have to do no matter what it takes to win those games if we are going to achieve that much. Otherwise, forget about it. But for me Tottenham are improving game by game. We have better players this year. We are improving and we have to keep our confidence high."
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
The tournament takes place in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea from January to February. Chelsea forwards Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, Arsenal attackers Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh are all expected to be involved, and Manchester City brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure are all expected to be involved and unavailable for their clubs.
Spurs are currently nine points behind leaders Manchester City with a game in hand, but when asked if they could still win the title, Adebayor told reporters: "Why not? Manchester City are first at the moment but they still have to play all the big clubs because we've only had the first half of the season.
“That is what is going to be over very soon, and then we attack January. Are City going to keep playing their football the way they are now right up until the end of the season?
"We will have to wait and see. But, while we have everyone here, they have two players going to the African Cup of Nations. Kolo Toure is not playing a lot but he is a great player for them. Yaya Toure has been amazing for them this year. So I don't know.”
He added: “We all know they [Manchester City] have a great team with a great team spirit and, at the moment, they are playing good football. But, if they get a couple of injuries, I think it would be very difficult for them.
“In football you can suffer two or three injuries in a week – that has happened to us with Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon.”
Tottenham have only lost once since being beaten in the opening two matches of their season, and they face no title contenders until they travel to the Etihad on January 22.
Adebayor went on to underline the importance of Spurs' fixture list, commenting: "I'm not saying they are going to be easy games but, if you want to be in the top four, those are the types of games that you have to win, home or away.
"We have to do no matter what it takes to win those games if we are going to achieve that much. Otherwise, forget about it. But for me Tottenham are improving game by game. We have better players this year. We are improving and we have to keep our confidence high."
How do you stay up to date with football when on the move? With http://m.goal.com – your best source for mobile coverage of the beautiful game.
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
Inside Goal.Com
-
Welbeck convinces Hodgson he is the man to lead the line
England beat Norway 1-0 at Wembley, with the Manchester United man hitting an impressive winner to stake his claim for a starting spot at Euro 2012
-
How England player's chances were affected by Belgium victory
Ashley Young all but secured his place in the starting line-up against France while captain Steven Gerrard put a good shift in. Joe Hart, however, needs to remain focused
-
In Pictures: The best and worst kits at Euro 2012
The European Championship is just around the corner and Goal.com distinguishes between the trendy and the passe at the prestigious tournament
-
The five players Rodgers could sign to kick-start revolution
The new Reds boss was unveiled to the press on Friday and must immediately begin work on revitalising a thin squad with some additions in the transfer market
-
Managerial merry-go-round keeps spinning as Lambert takes Villa job
The Scot officially left Norwich City on Saturday to become the second new boss in June, following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool on Friday
