UTottenham Hotspur v AS Monaco: Preview

Leonardo Jardim says AS Monaco will be ambitious ahead of their must-win Europa League clash against Tottenham.

Mauricio Pochettino admits Harry Kane may be rested for Tottenham's Europa League match against Monaco on Thursday while Mousa Dembele is definitely out as he is sick.

Dembele missed training on Wednesday after coming down with a stomach bug and key players like Kane could also sit out the clash given Spurs are already through to the knock-out stages.

A draw against Monaco will ensure Pochettino's side finish first in the group, which would also guarantee them a seeding going into the last 32.

Kane, however, has played in all of Tottenham's 21 fixtures so far this season and endured a hectic summer, after going to Australia on the club's post-season tour and then playing for England's under-21s.

``Is it a chance to rest him? Maybe yes,'' Pochettino said.

``He is in the squad for tomorrow but it is true we need to assess him this afternoon and we have to decide the starting 11 for tomorrow.''

Pochettino has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes in the Europa League so far and suggested he will retain a number of core players again.

``There may be one or two more changes but not much,'' Pochettino said.

``I think the squad we have is strong enough to compete in different competitions but maybe if you compare (the team) to the game against Qarabag there will be some changes, but not too much.''

Pochettino added: ``Always it is tough, it was a tough decision when we played against Qarabag and now it's tough again.

``Always we share the information with the sports science and medical department. We make the best decision for every game.

``Tomorrow is a good opportunity to finish first and win the group - this is our objective.''

Nabil Bentaleb and Nacer Chadli will both be in the squad after recovering from foot and ankle injuries respectively.

Chadli has not played since the goalless draw against Liverpool on October 17 and he believes Tottenham can get even better with a fully-fit squad. Ryan Mason and Alex Pritchard (both ankle) remain sidelined.

``It was frustrating for me to be on the side and be injured so you're not part of the team,'' Chadli said.

``But you're always happy when your team do well. If everyone is fit we have more chances to do even better so it's good some players are coming back from injuries.

``Hopefully if players don't have so many injuries we can get even better results.''

There may also be an opportunity for some of Tottenham's youngsters on Thursday with the likes of Tom Carroll, Joshua Onomah and Harry Winks all hoping for a chance to shine in the first team.

``They may have the opportunity to play in the next few games or later this season,'' Pochettino said.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane may be rested for their final Europa League group game against Monaco on Thursday.

Spurs, who have already qualified for the last 32, will secure top spot in Group J with a draw at White Hart Lane.

Midfield pair Nacer Chadli (ankle) and Nabil Bentaleb (foot) are back in the squad after injury, but fellow midfielder Mousa Dembele is ill.

Academy graduates Ryan Mason and Alex Pritchard (both ankle) remain unavailable.

Time for a rest?

England international Kane, 22, has been ever present for Spurs this season, scoring 10 goals in their 21 matches.

He also played every game of England Under 21s' dismal European Championship campaign in the summer.

"Is it a chance to rest him? Maybe yes," said Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino.

"He is in the squad but it is true we need to assess him and we have to decide the starting 11."

Pochettino to keep some continuity

Spurs host Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday as they aim to continue their 14-match unbeaten top-flight run.

But Pochettino said he will not make wholesale changes for the visit of the French Ligue 1 side, who must win and hope Anderlecht fail to beat Qarabag to qualify.

"There may be one or two more changes but not much," said former Argentina international Pochettino.

"The squad we have is strong enough to compete in different competitions, but maybe if you compare the team to the game against Qarabag there will be some changes.

"It is a good opportunity to finish first and win the group."

nguon: bbc

Arsenal look to set out their Premier League title credentials while a top-four place is up for grabs for Tottenham... why the North London derby is crucial for both teams

When Arsenal meet Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, there will be so much more than North London bragging rights at stake.

The fixture never faulted for passion but at times lacked competition in the 1990s and early 2000s. In recent years however, the gap in quality between the two teams has reduced and the rivalry has prospered as a result.

And as Arsenal look to set out their Premier League title credentials while Tottenham's new crop of English youngsters battle for the top four, this season's encounter could be more crucial than ever.

Spurs, on the other hand, need to make a statement at the bigger clubs to prove they belong in the Champions League.

Pochettino has thrown in the youngsters this season and it could prove to be a masterstroke in the long-term, and even this season. Dele Alli and Eric Dier continue to form a fine midfield partnership, and Harry Kane looks to have rediscovered his goalscoring touch.

Tottenham are enjoying a 10-game unbeaten run in the league, and though there have been a few too many draws, they're sitting pretty in fifth.

With Chelsea floundering, Liverpool settling in under a new manager and even Manchester United starting to struggle, third and fourth place could be up for grabs. Spurs have beaten Arsenal away just twice in the Premier League era, however; It's time to add a scalp to the obvious potential.

Arsenal got the better of their rivals in the Capital One Cup earlier this season after an unlikely double from Mathieu Flamini. Expect more goals this weekend, with the last three derbies in November producing 21 goals.

+6

Alexis Sanchez will be hoping to turn on the style at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon

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Christian Eriksen shakes hands with Mauricio Pochettino after impressing against Anderlecht on Sunday

nguon:  www.dailymail

Tottenham grant Emmanuel Adebayor compassionate leave, report says

Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor will miss his club's final game of the season at Everton on Sunday after being allowed to return to his native Togo on compassionate grounds, Press Association Sport reported.

Adebayor published the latest in a series of lengthy Facebook posts this week in which he revealed he had contemplated suicide because of a family feud.

And concerns over the player's mindset have prompted Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino to step in on his behalf.

The 31-year-old, who has already been granted compassionate leave once this season, is also set to miss the club's postseason tour, and his future at the club must now be in doubt.

Adebayor has used his Facebook account three times to reveal his complicated family issues. In his first post earlier this month, he accused his brother Rotimi of stealing mobile phones belonging to teammates at a leading French football academy.

Adebayor's third installment on Wednesday was the most striking as he said arguments with his brothers Kola and Peter, who died in July 2012, drove him to consider taking his own life.

''Many times I wanted to give up," Adebayor wrote. ''Ask my sister Iyabo Adebayor how many times I have called and was ready to commit suicide

''I kept these stories for years. But if I die, no one would know my story, no-one would learn from it. Some people say I should keep these stories private, but someone has to sacrifice himself, someone has to talk about it.''

nguon: espnfc

Harry Kane targets more Tottenham goals after reaching 30 for season

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has no intention of taking his foot off the gas despite reaching 30 goals for the season.

Kane, 21, became the first Tottenham player to reach that mark since Gary Lineker during the 1991-92 campaign when he netted the third in a 3-1 Premier League victory at Newcastle on Sunday.

The England international had to wait almost a month after his 29th of the campaign to reach the milestone, but with five games to play before the end of the campaign, he is refusing to rest on his laurels.

Kane told Spurs TV: "It's great to reach that milestone. It felt like I was on 29 for ages and to be able to get to 30 now and 20 in the league is special -- and to win the game makes it even better.

"The season doesn't finish here, though. There are still five more games left and I'll be trying to get on the scoresheet in as many of those games and get as many wins as we can."

Kane's strike at St James' Park cemented a comfortable victory for the visitors on a day when the home fans staged protests against owner Mike Ashley.

Their mood was not improved when Nacer Chadli fired Spurs into a 30th-minute lead, and although Jack Colback levelled within 20 seconds of the restart, Christian Eriksen restored their advantage just seven minutes later.

The Magpies committed men to the search for an equaliser as time ran down, and Kane made the most of a lack of numbers at the back in injury-time when he raced through to beat keeper Tim Krul.

Tottenham defender Kyle Walker to miss four weeks with foot injury

Tottenham full-back Kyle Walker has been ruled out for a further four weeks with a foot injury.

Walker sustained the injury in the 0-0 draw with Burnley on April 5 and is now set to miss the majority of the run-in as Spurs battle for a Europa League spot.

Hugo Lloris may leave Tottenham, Real Madrid cooling on David De Gea

Lloris could leave White Hart Lane

As the chances of Tottenham making it into Champions League places for next year become increasingly less likely with each passing week, the chorus of questions about Hugo Lloris's future with the club become louder.

The France first-team goalkeeper joined Spurs from Lyon in 2012 for a scant £8 million and had expressed high hopes at the time to chairman Daniel Levy that he'd help the club make it into the Champions League. That hope has not come to fruition for Lloris or Tottenham, who are now seven points adrift of Man City in the league table with just seven games remaining on the fixture list.

The Guardian report says it hasn't escaped Lloris that virtually all of his France national team colleagues are currently, or at least were, playing Champions League football. The 28-year-old is keen to do the same.

Whatever Lloris decides, Levy must have remembered his conversation with the Frenchman from 2012. Spurs signed Michel Vorm from Swansea City just two weeks after Lloris re-signed last July as an insurance policy, and a good one, for just £4.5 million.

Kevin Wimmer told to take Tottenham chance by Cologne, Austria coaches

Cologne defender Kevin Wimmer says he has been advised to take the chance to sign for Tottenham by both his club coach Peter Stoger and Austrian national boss Marcel Koller.

Wimmer, 22, has played the full 90 minutes in all but two matches of his debut Bundesliga campaign, missing out on a 100 percent record following an injury-time dismissal against Eintracht Frankfurt and the subsequent suspension.

The defender has been key in Cologne's comeback Bundesliga season, with the relegation battle five games from the end of the campaign.

Wimmer has been linked with a move away from Cologne for several months now, and it is believed that his next stop will be White Hart Lane after declaring that Spurs would be a "dream move" earlier this month.

The Austria international confirmed transfer talks were ongoing, tellingBild: "The negotiations between the two clubs don't look too bad at all. It's not like that it's already a done deal, and I am permanently dealing with it."

Wimmer explained that he has discussed his future with Austria coach Koller as well as Cologne boss Stoger, and both told him "to take such a chance."

The defender also made contact with Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino during a trip to London during the winter, saying: "He told me that he banks on young players, and that he saw me play several times."

When asked to comment on rumours regarding Pochettino's potential exit from White Hart Lane this summer, Wimmer added: "You never know in this business, but with Mauricio Pochettino they have a good setup already."

Ronald Koeman: 'Tottenham Hotspur clash will be special'

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has predicted that this weekend's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur with be a "special" match.

Just one point separates the two sides in the table with five games of the season remaining, while there is also the added spice of former Saints boss Mauricio Pochettinoreturning to St Mary's for the first time since leaving last summer.

Koeman steadied the ship following a huge overhaul of players in the wake of Pochettino's exit, and the Dutchman acknowledged that the Argentine's presence in the opposition dugout will make the match extra special for the fans.

"Everybody was afraid because we had to make a lot of changes in the team. But I think the quality of the players that we brought in were good, at a good level. I think the rest of the players had really a good aspiration and ambition to do a good season, to play a good season at a good level," Koeman told PA.

"Now we are fighting for a high position in the table. There's still five games to play and a very nice one this Saturday afternoon.

"It is Tottenham, the difference is only one point and, okay, for the fans maybe it makes it a little bit more special because Mauricio is now the coach and was the coach of Southampton. He is the coach of the opponent this Saturday, so that makes it special but the game will be decided between the white lines."

Koeman also expressed his belief that Pochettino would be afforded a warm reception at St Mary's, despite a number of away fans targeting him with jeers in the reverse fixture at White Hart Lane.

nguon: sportsmole

Harry Kane is desperate to play for England U21s this summer says FA chief

here’s been a lot of talk about whether Harry Kane should play for the England U21s at the U21 European Championship in the Czech Republic this summer.

On the one hand, Kane played a major part in qualification and will, it is argued, gain invaluable experience of competing in an international tournament ahead of the more serious business of Euro 2016 in France next summer.

On the other, Kane is now an full England international and would surely benefit from a summer of rest, particularly with Euro 2016 looming.

But the man himself is in no doubt about what he wants, according to FA chairman Greg Dyke.

“I got a call from Harry Kane’s agent recently just to say how much he enjoyed playing for England and how much he wants to play for the U21s this year in the tournament, in the Euros,” Dyke told Sky Sports.

“And I think that’s important. If you’re a young English boy coming through the system, you should want to play for England.”

England manager Roy Hodgson and U21 boss Gareth Southgate have both said Kane will play in this summer’s tournament and while Mauricio Pochettino says he wants the 21-year-old to have at least a month’s rest, there’s no indication (yet) that Spurs will stop him.

With Spurs set for a post-season tour to Malaysia and Australia in late May, a trip Kane will surely be involved in given his status as poster boy, and the MLS All-Star game in late June, there’s a chance he won’t have a rest at all this summer. The U21 Euros run from 17-30 June.

Kane will, at least, miss England’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland on 7 June and a Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia a week later, and it is testament to how highly Hodgson and Dyke regard the U21 tournament that they are prepared to compromise the senior team’s qualification by allowing Kane to miss the match in Slovenia. Evidently the England manager would like Kane to gain experience of playing in an international tournament ahead of next summer’s Euros in France but for Spurs, Kane’s involvement in the Czech Republic isn’t particularly good news.

For me, either Kane is a full international or an U21 international. Asking him to be both risks the forward suffering burnout at some point next season and that’d be bad news for club and country ahead the real deal in France in 2016.

nguon: thetottenhamway

Spurs star returns to training ahead of Southampton clash

Hugo Lloris has missed the last three matches with a gashed knee (THANKS KYLE WALKER) but the goalkeeper is set to return for Saturday’s trip to Southampton after resuming training on Wednesday, reports Sky Sports.

Lloris, 28, was injured after five minutes of the 4-3 win over Leicester after a collision with Walker. Provided he suffers no setbacks in the next couple of days, it seems certain the captain will replace Michel Vorm between the sticks for the crucial match at St. Mary’s.

That obviously good news for Spurs. Although Vorm has been fine in the games against Burnley, Leicester and Newcastle, Tottenham’s chances of winning an important match are considerably boosted by the return of the world class Lloris, particularly with another defensive reshuffle expected ahead of him.

Walker will definitely miss the game with a foot complaint and the England international will be out for another month, according to the club. DeAndre Yedlin, 21, is a candidate for his Premier League start, although it seems more likely Mauricio Pochettino will opt for either Eric Dier or Vlad Chiriches at right back. I’m not particularly fussed, as long as none of them injure Hugo again. I’ve missed him.

nguon: thetottenhamway

Report: Former Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama wanted by Tottenham Hotspur, also has rival offer

Southampton ace Victor Wanyama is wanted for a switch by both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, reportThe Sun.

The former Celtic midfielder has been a steady influence in midfield for the Saints since joining two summers ago, forging an impressive partnership with Morgan Schneiderlin.

The Kenyan is also quoted in the report stating he would be open to working again with Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who signed him for the Saints.

Wanyama admits he is keen to play in the Champions League, which would give Arsenal an edge over Spurs, or at least counterbalance the Pochettino factor.

The midfielder would have been playing against Spurs this weekend in the Premier League, but is set to miss the game through suspension.

The 23-year-old has a contract at Southampton until 2017, making 28 appearances in the Premier League and scoring three goals, helping them into the seventh position they currently occupy.

At Tottenham, Wanyama's arrival would spell the end for French midfielder Etienne Capoue, who has barely featured in 2015.

Meanwhile at Arsenal he could complement Francis Coquelin, and place added pressure on Mikel Arteta's future, but with Schneiderlin's future also the subject of speculation, Southampton would be desperate not to lose one in case it pushes the other to want to move on, let alone allow the pair to leave.

Do you think Wanyama should stay put at Southampton?

nguon: hereisthecity

Everton winger Kevin Mirallas and Tottenham's Aaron Lennon poised to swap clubs during transfer window

Spurs ready to sign Belgian after Atlético Madrid drop interest while Everton are expected to make winger’s loan permanent

Tottenham Hotspur are confident of signing the Everton winger Kevin Mirallas after Atlético Madrid dropped their interest in the Belgian.

Mirallas is expected to move to White Hart Lane in the summer, with Aaron Lennon completing a permanent switch in the opposite direction to Everton.

Tottenham’s move for Mirallas will raise further question marks over the future of England international Andros Townsend, who is already worried about his place in head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s pecking order.

Everton rejected an inquiry for Mirallas from Spurs in January, but are willing to accept a bid for the unsettled 27-year-old at the end of the season to help their move for Lennon.

Roberto Martínez has confirmed that he wants to make Lennon’s loan move permanent, with the 28-year-old valued at about £7 million by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

Tottenham had feared they could miss out on Mirallas to Atlético, who also showed an interest in January. But the Spanish club will look elsewhere in the summer now. There are concerns inside Atlético that Mirallas could not cope with combining La Liga and the Champions League.

Pochettino is a big fan of Mirallas and believes the former Olympiakos man can give his team an added attacking threat and help to implement his style of pressing the opposition to greater effect.

Mirallas can play on the left or the right, which suggests that Townsend could face a battle to start regularly if he stays at Spurs.

Townsend will ask for clarification over his future over the summer, with Southampton still interested in the 23-year-old.

There is also interest from Serie A in Townsend, who scored the spectacular equaliser in England’s draw with Italy in Turin last month.

Townsend has been in and out of the Tottenham team this season and was left on the substitutes’ bench for the victory over Newcastle United at the weekend. He is desperate to go to next summer’s Euro 2016 finals and knows he must play regularly to be assured of a place in Roy Hodgson’s squad.

While Tottenham may be reluctant to let Townsend leave, at least eight first-team squad players will be free to find new clubs this summer. Other than Lennon, Spurs will listen to offers for Emmanuel Adebayor, Roberto Soldado, Mousa Dembélé, Paulinho, Étienne Capoue, Younès Kaboul and Vlad Chiriches.

Former manager Harry Redknapp has criticised Tottenham’s recruitment policy. “They have bought players in and haven’t spent wisely,” Redknapp said. “The players that have been brought in aren’t down to the manager.

“The big signings that have come in have been a disaster. That is something Daniel [Levy] is going to have to look at.

“The recruitment was poor. They have changed that around now and I think they have new people coming in. They have to make sure when they make more signings, they’re better than the ones they’ve got.”

On Pochettino, Redknapp added: “I think he’s excellent. He is a great guy as well. But let’s be honest, they haven’t pulled up any trees. Finishing sixth or seventh is certainly not going forward. But he needs another year.

“Really, he’s been rescued by the kids this season – Harry Kane, Ryan Mason, Nabil Bentaleb, Danny Rose, Andros Townsend, Kyle Walker. They have been the best players at the club and have probably kept them going.”

Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is poised to return for their trip to Southampton on Saturday. The Frenchman has missed the past three games as a result of the badly gashed knee he suffered against Leicester City last month

nguon:  telegraph