Tottenham defender Michael Dawson: We can't be Basel faulty

HEAD BOY ... Michael Dawson in action

MICHAEL DAWSON has told his Spurs team-mates to take inspiration from his topsy-turvy season.

Tottenham are out to defy the odds by booking a Europa League semi-final place tonight.

Dawson leads his side out against FC Basel in their quarter-final second leg knowing the Swiss are huge favourites to progress following their 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane a week ago.

But the dogged defender, 29, is refusing to throw in the towel — just like last
summer when he was told he could leave the club and join QPR.

Dawson’s days appeared numbered. He was out of the squad and out in the cold.

But after fighting his way back into manager Andre Villas-Boas’ plans, he said: “We know Basel is a tough place to play — but if we get the win we’re through.

“Things can change very quickly as I have discovered this season, which has been interesting to say the least.

“In the summer I was out of the team. Now I am playing and loving every minute of it.

“People always told me to enjoy the highs and now I know why.

“When you are struggling, not in the team, losing matches and trying to find
form, you need to stay mentally strong.

“Sometimes it isn’t easy, but you have to keep believing. You have to keep getting on that training pitch and performing because things can turn around quickly.

“You can never tell what’s going to happen in football but mostly you get what you deserve.

“So it’s down to ourselves.We’re in a good position to go through despite what
some think. Win a match and we’re in the semi final.”

With QPR likely to be relegated, Dawson looked as though he dodged a bullet by deciding to stay at Spurs.

But he admitted: “I’ve been here eight years. Had I wanted to I could have gone. But I never, ever gave it a thought.

“I love playing at the club. I’m captain and it’s a great feeling leading those boys out. I stayed because I believed I could get back into the team and I could help the team achieve things.

“I just want to help us achieve something.

“Our aim is to be in the top four and get back in the Champions League. But we’re also just a game away from the semis of the Europa League.

“We might not have played well in the first leg but we’re still in it.

“You can also look at the game in Lyon when we were a minute from going out until Mousa Dembele scored a great goal.

“Then there was Inter Milan when it could have been so different had they got an away goal in the first leg.

“You ride your luck sometimes but we’re still in the hat and still fighting.”