Tottenham face Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) in the Champions League this week and Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping his side can put on a show to help them move on from recent struggles.
Spurs are currently seventh in the Premier League and already five points away from fourth place and a spot in the next year’s edition of Europe’s premier club tournament.
There’s much negativity around Tottenham at the moment, and it feels in complete contrast to what has been the case in recent years. Even Pochettino is finding himself questioned, as the togetherness of the squad has been in doubt at times.
Yet, Spurs still have a big reputation around Europe, with the current problems seen as something of a blip.
Ahead of the match this week, Crvena Zvezda’s Spanish midfielder Jose Canas has been speaking to the media, and it’s clear he believes the London club are still up there with the very best.
“It is clear that Tottenham plays in the strongest league in the world. Everything is faster, more intense than in the other leagues. We will fight, run and compete, and we will see what will happen. We have ambitions and we know our abilities.”
Given the task ahead of them, Canas was asked if coming away with a point would be a good result for his club: “Everything positive is good, with the good mentality we can even get a favourable result. We know what this game means.”
Losing is unthinkable for Spurs, and Crvena Zvezda will likely try to play on the nerves of their hosts.
