Thursday, 21st August, 2014
Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino is eyeing winning the Europa League as a route into next season's Champions League.
Spurs start their European journey this evening against Cypriot side AEL Limassol in the Europa League playoff round. And with the Champions League carrot there for whichever side win the Europa League this season, the Argentine will take the competition seriously.
"The Europa League is now a different competition", the former Southampton manager was quoted as saying by ITV.
"Why? Well, if you won it last year you basically got nothing. Just a trophy.
"Now the Europa League gives you the opportunity to play in the Champions League. That is a big challenge for us."
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Spurs could only finish sixth in the Premier League last term, well adrift of a top four Champions League spot, while again this term the battle to finish in the top four is expected to be fierce.
The winners of this season's Europa League will enter into the playoff round for next season's Champions League, while if the spot in the group stage for the competition's holders is not used, they will enter at the group stage.
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