Europa League run can inspire Tottenham, claims Villas-Boas

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas believes that the club's Europa League run can inspire rather than hinder their progress in the Premier League.

Spurs added two more fixtures to a an already busy schedule when they knocked Lyon out of the competition to book a two-legged date with Italian giant Inter Milan, but Villas-Boas is confident that fatigue will not impact their quest to qualify for next season's Champions League.

"We've been having some great, great results," Villas-Boas told reporters. "After Europa League games we've always been good in the Premier League. I think it puts us in a good position to face West Ham.

"I don't think it's a distraction, I think it's an inspiration and I hope it can be exactly that against West Ham."

The Spurs boss hopes that their good run in the Europa League can help to build a winning mentality that translates to similarly strong domestic form.

"We don't have to fear any team," Villas-Boas said. "People have respect for us. If you're in a winning mood it's important in the league.

"We have two more very important games coming up in the league [against West Ham and Arsenal] so the confidence will stay high and that's good for us."

Villas-Boas did admit, however, that the rivalry between the two clubs would add extra intensity to their clash with West Ham.

"It will be a different game to the Lyon one, of course," he continued.

"Teams always have a lot of respect for us and they drop back so it's always difficult but I think we need to do the difference, we have to fight for each other as well.

"It will be a physical game, for sure, but we are used to it and this is a special match for us and the supporters too, because it is a derby."