Spurs hero Crouch now aiming to top Gunners
Spurs guaranteed a place in the Champions League final qualifying round by beating Manchester City on Wednesday night and it is still possible they could secure an automatic place in the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition on Sunday by pipping Arsenal to third.
Harry Redknapp’s side need to win at Burnley on Sunday and hope Arsenal, whose season has drifted to a standstill, slip up at home to Europa League finalists Fulham.
England striker Crouch, who tasted Champions League football with Liverpool, said: “If Arsenal lose, we’ve got an opportunity, and there’s no way we won’t be up for it on the last day just because we’ve qualified for the Champions League.
“We’ll be going all out to finish strongly at Burnley and get a result, and see what happens.
“I’ve got to be honest, we didn’t dream about catching Arsenal. They were challenging for the title at one point, and we were never in the title race. But it’s a possibility and would be fantastic, the icing on the cake.”
Crouch scored the only goal to beat City and admitted afterwards that Spurs had been guilty of underachieving in the past.
He added: “When I joined in the summer, I couldn’t believe how the club had been underachieving, with the fantastic squad of players we have.
“We can replace international players with international players, and over the course of the season I think we deserve fourth place.
“It’s the best competition in the world, with the best players in the world and any player would want to be part of it.
“I remember those Champions League nights at Anfield being so special and I believe they can be just as special at White Hart Lane.
“The Champions League is difficult and you do have to be extremely organised away from home. That is the key.
“If we qualify from the group stages, we have enough players and enough tactical know-how to be able to do well.”
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy hailed the club’s guarantee of a shot at the Champions League as perfect timing to boost their new stadium plans.
Spurs want to build a new £400 million (€471m), 56,000-seat ground to replace their ageing White Hart Lane home, and making the Champions League group stage would bring in more than £20m (€23.5m) in extra income next season.
Levy said: “I wouldn’t want to put a price on it but it is great news for the club, particularly as we are in the throes of considering building a new stadium.
“I always knew Harry was a great manager. Clearly he has made a great contribution, but credit also needs to go to the team.”
For his part, Redknapp believes he has struck a blow for English managers by taking Tottenham into Champions League final qualifying round.
The achievement comes a week after fellow English manager Roy Hodgson guided Fulham to the Europa League final.
The Tottenham manager said: “One or two people ridiculed me because I said there were good English coaches and there are.
“If they are just given the right jobs with the right players then they can do just as good a job as anybody else, no doubt about that.
“There are some terrific coaches in this country at all levels and it’s a crying shame that more of them don’t get the chance to manage at a bigger club.”
Redknapp is now 63 but has no intention of calling it a day.
He added: “I don’t see why I should pack in. I’m on the road at half past five every morning and I don’t feel like an old man. If I wanted to walk the dogs up a beach every day I would pack it in.
“I love football – if I wasn’t here I would go and manage a kids’ team.”
Redknapp’s attacking 4-4-2 paid off at Eastlands and he intends to stick to his guns even though the formation has become unfashionable in the last couple of seasons.
“We will be positive – I love to watch teams like the Manchester United team when they were playing with wingers and two up front, that’s how I like to see the game played.
“We’ve played some great football this year, it’s been a pleasure to watch – we move the ball, pass the ball, we are a good football team.
“We will have go in the Champions League. What have you got to lose? You’ve got to have a go.”
Redknapp said he hoped there could still be a place for Ireland skipper Robbie Keane, Jamie O’Hara and Alan Hutton next season. All are on loan.
He added: “They are only loan players so they will come back. They are all good players and hopefully they have a part to play next season.”
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