Jol: We are getting better

As Tottenham prepare for Saturday’s north-London derby with Arsenal at White Hart Lane, manager Martin Jol declared his side are “getting better and better”.

Spurs currently sit third in the Barclays Premiership table after coming away from Manchester United with a well-earned 1-1 draw last weekend. The Gunners, though, are only three points behind, and with a game in hand over their fierce rivals.

However, the manner in which Jol’s men rallied to come from a goal down to earn a share of the spoils at Old Trafford showed the current Spurs side, still unbeaten away in the league, now have a mental toughness to go with their undoubted talent – a characteristic which had been missing from many of their sides in recent seasons.

There is a growing belief among both supporters and players alike this campaign could end in European qualification, with the consistent performances of England defender and Spurs captain Ledley King complementing the gritty determination of midfielders Jermaine Jenas and Edgar Davids, while the lively Jermain Defoe is always a threat in attack.

And Jol declared: “I think we’re getting better and better.

“If you get confidence out of games like at Manchester United, you can improve further.

“Winning games and not conceding goals must become second nature and that’s what we’re working on.”

Jol added on the club’s official website, www.tottenhamhotspur.com: “I feel we can still improve further.

“I don’t think we’ve played to our potential, but you can’t expect that yet.

“We have a lot of new faces and we are gelling together and when we do that in the near future it will suit me because I want to play attractive football and get the results as well.”

Jol’s enthusiasm is infectious and he has developed a real feeling of togetherness within the Spurs camp, as full-back Lee Young-Pyo revealed.

“The team is developing well and we seem to be improving every match,” the South Korea international said. “I think we will be even stronger in the second half of the season.”