Villas-Boas: Europa League is special

Tuesday, September 18, 2012
12:27 PM

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas insists his side will take the Europa League seriously.

Spurs face Serie A side Lazio at White Hart Lane in their opening Europa League group game on Thursday.

The Portuguese, who won the competition with Porto in 2010, says winning the trophy would be a special moment in the club’s history.

“This competition is very important,” Villas-Boas told Tottenham’s official website.

“It’s a tough competition, you have to play 15 games before you reach the final, so it’s hard and strenuous and the best teams out of the Champions League are playing.

“It gives access to the European Super Cup and, for me, I always thought it was a prestigious competition and it should be promoted like that because after the Cup Winners’ Cup disappeared, it is not only about the Champions League.

“If we can win a trophy, that represents a lot for Tottenham Hotspur’s history as well and would be something really special.”