Vertonghen urges Spurs to rediscover focus

Posted Tuesday, April 16, 2013 by Foxsports.com

Jan Vertonghen has said Tottenham will dust themselves down following their Europa League exit and maintain their challenge for top-four in the Premier League.

Spurs crashed out at the quarter-final stage of the Europa League after losing on penalties to Swiss side Basle, who will now play Chelsea for a place in the final.

Andre Villas-Boas has stressed throughout the season that Champions League qualification is the target but the Portuguese has seen his side win just one of their last four league games.

They now sit fifth in the table, with Chelsea in fourth and Arsenal third, although they are only one point behind their north London rivals with six games remaining.

Vertonghen, who was sent off in the eventual defeat in Basle, has said the squad is ready to push on for the remainder of the season to secure Champions League football next season.

"We have to stay together and to go for that top four place in the Premier League," he told Tottenham's official website.

"We have had a rest, we clear our heads and we come back against Manchester City [on Sunday].

"A lot of players could be coming back, important players and we only have big games now, City, Chelsea, all cup finals. We go for the highest place possible."

The visit of reigning Premier League champions City will be the first game Spurs have played since their penalty shoot-out loss, a result that Belgium international Vertonghen believes can help the team develop.

"I hope it makes us stronger," the 25-year-old added.

"You could see there was a team together on the pitch, we really fought for each other for 120 minutes."