Villas-Boas adamant Tottenham can bounce back from Everton defeat

Dec 14, 2012 7:50:00 PM

After seeing his side lose out to the Toffees in injury time last Sunday, the Spurs boss wants to see a reaction from his players when they take on Swansea this weekend

Andre Villas-Boas is confident Tottenham can bounce back from their last-gasp defeat to Everton with a win against Swansea at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Spurs were 1-0 up at Goodison Park after 90 minutes, but goals from Steven Pienaar and Nikica Jelavic cruelly denied the north London side a win over their rivals for a top-four finish.

But, while Villas-Boas admitted the loss was a “difficult” experience, the Portuguese manager called on his side to use the disappointment to their benefit and return to winning ways immediately.

"The dressing room was extremely disappointed after Everton. To see the result shift and us to take nothing was difficult," Villas-Boas told reporters.

"The boys came into training this week with desire and wanted to improve.

"I approach the players as individuals and I know we can bounce back. Which we have done this week.

"We take the blame for the first half and how we suffered with goals but we learn from it and we evolve as players and as a manager.

"When a defeat happens there are always things to analyse. We worked on aspects that didn't go well last week like keeping possession and our defensive shape.

The former Chelsea boss was keen to acknowledge that his side face a tough test against an in-form Swansea, who sit just three points behind them in the Premier League.

"We know they have been good away from home,” Villas-boas continued.

“It won't be an easy game. They are here on their own merit. We are sitting three points off third and we look forward to the next two home games.

"We have come out of a difficult five weeks playing 10 games which has been tiring. The players have been brilliant throughout. It was important to have a breather this week and we've trained well in a free week."

The 35-year-old also hailed opposing number Michael Laudrup and claimed that his signings of Michu, Jonathan de Guzman and Pablo Hernandez have taken the Swans to “the next level”.

"Any player arriving in the Premier League will find it difficult but Michu has been brilliant, a tremendous goalscorer," he added.

“De Guzman and Hernandez have also done well and Michael Laudrup has taken Swansea to the next level."

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 to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached!
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!

play

open

Live!

Champions League final - LIVE!

German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.

11:08 PM BST

Right, that's just about it from me, folks. Thank you so much for all your contributions. We hyped this one up. We said it was going to showcase everything that is great about German football. And you know what? It delivered. It was an absolutely absorbing final between the continent's top two sides, a fitting conclusion to what has been a fantastic tournament. Impossible not to feel so, so sorry for Dortmund but they need only to look at what Bayern have done tonight, lifting the trophy just 12 months after throwing it away, to see that it's possible to bounce back from this kind of devastation.

But Bayern deserve this. They've paid their dues and nobody can dispute that they are the best team in Europe. Bayern, we salute you. Over to everyone else now to try to come up with a way to beat this most wonderfully balanced of sides! But, until next season, good night - and good luck.

11:00 PM BST

Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp has finally faced the press and, judging by his comments, is a tad upset with perhaps something other than the final scoreline.

"First and foremost, congratulations to Bayern Munich because they won so it's not important to speak about what happened in the game," he told ITV1. "After the game you have to respect the result and that's what we do now.

"I didn't see (Robben's) goal. It was a free-kick and we were not in the right formation at that moment. It was late in the game and it has been a really hard season for us. But Bayern Munich had to fight too. We deserved to be in the final and we showed this tonight."

10:56 PM BST

Sir Alex Ferguson also has a new job... Well, kind of. The former Manchester United boss was entrusted with the honour of presenting the man of the match award after the game and relished the task: "It's my first job since I retired and it's a pleasure!"

Robben humbly received his accolade before commenting: "I think it’s such a shame a world-class trainer is leaving the game." Quite.

10:51 PM BST

Heynckes, class act that he is, was also quick to empathise with a devastated Dortmund.

"I told their players: I know your disappointment after losing a final. I lost a final to Liverpool, too.

"During the first half we had trouble to get into the game. At half-time a adjusted our play. I think both teams felt pressure. If you see that you have a 25-point-lead in the league, it is normal you are the favourite. But after 30 minutes we freed ourselves.

"Over the past year, we improved and improved. We improved and modified so many details. I was stricter and I have to say that the players followed me and there is harmony in the dressing room."

10:48 PM BST

And finally we get to hear from Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes, who will be replaced by Pep Guardiola this summer.

The big news is, though, that he seems to have a job lined up for himself, which restores one's faith in our fickle game, given the man is now a two-time Champions League winner!

"The decision on what I will do after the DFB Pokal match (against Stuttgart next saturday) was already taken last June? Retire? No, you will learn that after the DFB Pokal final."

Inside Goal.Com

Player Ratings: Dortmund 1-2 Bayern
Goal.com rates the players on show as die Roten edge out their Bundesliga rivals to complete the double after a closely contested Champions League final at Wembley
Robben is finally Bayern's braveheart
The winger was the driving force behind the German outfit's triumph after years of playing second fiddle in the final
Top 10 all-time Champions League scorers
As the competition moves within days of its much-anticipated conclusion at Wembley, Goal profiles the most prolific players in its history
Top 10 Champions League Final Moments
As Europe braces itself for an all German classic at Wembley on Saturday, Goal.com takes a look back at some of the iconic moments in the history of Uefa's showpiece event since its rebranding in 1992.
Transfer Talk: Mourinho wants Isco at Chelsea
Get your daily dose of all the speculation from around the globe as clubs cast their eye towards summer reinforcements