Adebayor: Finishing above Arsenal would confirm I was right to leave them

Feb 23, 2013 9:20:00 AM

The Tottenham striker is determined to prove his decision to quit the Emirates back in 2009 was the correct one, as he aims to help Spurs challenge for a Champions League place

Tottenham Hotspur forward Emmanuel Adebayor is determined to help his team-mates maintain their four-point advantage over north London rivals Arsenal, as he claims that beating the Gunners in the overall Premier League standings this season would prove he was right to leave them.

The striker left Arsenal in 2009 for Manchester City, but after failing to make a lasting impression at the Etihad, joined Spurs last season on loan before completing a permanent deal in the summer.

SPURS IN THE DRIVING SEAT

1. Man United 2. Man City 3. Chelsea 4. Tottenham ...................... 5. Arsenal 6. Everton	PD 26 26 26 26 ........ 26 26	PTS 65 53 49 48 ........ 44 42	GD +31 +24 +27 +14 ........ +21 +8

Adebayor told The Telegraph: “Everyone knows there’s a big rivalry between Arsenal and Spurs.

“When I was at Arsenal, my job was to score goals for them. Now I’m at Tottenham and I have to help the team finish in the top four.

“We have a big chance this season to finish on top of them and we have to take it.

“Last season at the last game of a tough race, you know what happened. We don’t want to commit the same mistake. For me it’s a big chance to show people I was right to leave Arsenal, which means finishing on top of them. If that’s with Tottenham even better.”

The two clubs clash at White Hart Lane on 3 March, when Adebayor can expect the visiting Arsenal supporters to give him a typically hostile reception. However, he revealed that he doesn't get distracted by boos and taunts from the fans.

He added: “I’ve seen people dying in front of me. So 30,000 people abusing me, I take it as a joke, part of life.”

Adebayor will also be looking to make amends for his performance in the first north London derby of the season, when - after putting Spurs ahead in the 10th minute - he committed a rash foul, was promptly red-carded, and saw his team lose 5-2 to the hosts for the second year running.

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Catch the latest news from the Spanish capital as Jose Mourinho's time at Santiago Bernabeu nears its end. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Miles Chambers.

7:20 PM BST

Florentino Perez is being unsurprisingly amicable with this whole thing, but there are stings and barbs for Jose Mourinho buried in some of his words, such as: "Achievements this season haven't been sufficient for demands of a club such as Real Madrid, or a coach like Mourinho."

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More from Real Madrid club president Florentino Perez regarding Jose Mourinho's departure: "We've come to this decision just now although its something thats been back of our mind for some time. We have no pre-contract signed with any manager. This is something we have to look at over the coming days

"The time is right to go our seperate ways and once again I would like to thank Jose Mourinho for all his hard work."

7:12 PM BST

Florentino Perez just said: "The club and coach believe the time is right to bring our relationship to an end. I would like to thank Jose Mourinho for all his hard work over the last 3 years. The team has improved over the last three years. I would like to wish him all the best."

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Jose Mourinho will leave as Real Madrid coach!

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Jerry Moses ‏(@adi_rijez) tweeted: "Real madrid need a manager not a team breaker."

True, Jose Mourinho has caused more friction than he has joy at Real Madrid in the last month, but he has guided the Blancos to three consecutive Champions League semi-finals and his side broke the record for points collected in a single Liga season last year!

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