Bale and Adebayor out for ‘decisive’ Spurs clash
The North Londoners come to Slovenia third in Group J following draws in their opening matches at home to Lazio and away to Panathinaikos. Now comes a double-header with Maribor, starting with tonight’s clash at the People’s Garden before the return fixture at White Hart Lane two weeks from now.
“I think these two games with Maribor is going to be the decisive point of the group phase,” Tottenham boss Villas-Boas said.
“A point will not be a bad result as it will keep us tight with Maribor. Lazio can escape if they beat Panathinaikos.
“But our two games with Maribor will be decisive.”
Asked if Maribor were a side Tottenham should be beating, Villas-Boas said: “Yes, for the players we have and the team that we have this is clear.
“By the nature of the game, we will not expect an easy game. It is a passionate environment, a very, very good club that are run tremendously and have done very well in the last 10 years, winning most of the Slovenian titles.”
Villas-Boas has brought a strong-looking 19-man squad with him to Slovenia, although he will have to do without several key names.
Mousa Dembele remains sidelined with a hip complaint and keeper Brad Friedel has stayed at home, meaning Hugo Lloris will start.
Bale also stayed in Britain after his girlfriend gave birth to their first child at the weekend. Adebayor is the other big name not to have travelled with Tottenham, which Villas-Boas says is due to back pain.
However, there were reports the Togo striker could ask to miss the trip to Slovenia as he was unhappy about his chances of winning a starting berth.
“He’s pretty happy,” Villas-Boas said of Adebayor.
“Certainly Ade is a player who wants to come into the team, but Jermain Defoe’s form and the structure that we are using now, plus the injury setback he suffered after the Reading game, hasn’t allowed him the playing time that he deserved.”
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