Kaboul hoping better days lie ahead
Kaboul completed a remarkable Spurs comeback on Monday night with an equaliser at the end of a crazy Barclays Premier League game at White Hart Lane, 20 minutes after Jol appeared on the brink with Aston Villa leading 4-1.
Spurs remain in the bottom three but players claimed after the 4-4 draw that the result almost felt like a victory.
“I hope this result will turn our season around,” Kaboul said. “We are all aware how important that comeback was for the manager.
“This shows how much we’re behind him and want to fight for him – we all support him.”
There have been concerns over Jol’s position since Spurs officials met Sevilla’s Juande Ramos at the start of the season, and the club were also linked with a move for Jose Mourinho when the Portuguese coach left Chelsea.
Chairman Daniel Levy has denied a package has been agreed with the Dutchman for his departure and has issued statements of support, yet Jol’s position has continued to look unstable.
It does not get any easier this weekend, either, with a trip to Liverpool after the UEFA Cup clash against Anorthosis Famagusta on Thursday.
Jol’s relationship with sporting director Damien Comolli has been in the spotlight during the messy period. The relationship is described as “professional”, with the pair known to have had heated discussions.
“Everyone at the club realises what could be achieved in the next three to five years if we all work properly,” Comolli said in his programme notes.
“We all know we have got a responsibility because of the history and what the club represents – and we represent the club.”
Comolli went on to explain the process of building for the future, which starts with identifying the top young talent.
“Once you have done this you must ensure the standard of coaching is right at all levels,” he added.
Kaboul is thought to be one of the players Comolli identified last season, and the young Frenchman thundered in his third goal of the campaign to grab a point against Villa.
Jol was involved in the manic celebrations after the goal when players rushed to the bench.
“We have a very good group, good coach, good staff and good players and I wanted to celebrate this goal with everybody,” said Kaboul.
Kaboul has enjoyed a run in the team as Ledley King recovers from knee surgery.
Jol rates King, the club captain, as the central figure in Spurs finishing fifth in consecutive seasons but will not rush the defender into action following his injury setbacks last season.
When asked if he would be available immediately after the international break, Jol said: “I don’t think so. I said it last week we can’t rush him.
“Last season he came back for the last four games and that was probably the reason we were fifth. We were fourth for seven months the year before, that was because of him. We were fifth when he was out for the last nine matches of the season.
“But I can’t wait for Ledley all the time because I have other players I have to focus on and if he will be back it will be a big bonus for us.”
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