MX23RW : Friday, August 14 22:42:54| >> :60:1103:1103:
Jul 12, 2020 at 4.30pm UK at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
SpursTottenham Hotspur
2-1
ArsenalArsenal
Heung-min (19'), Alderweireld (81')
Lo Celso (16'), Aurier (34'), Davies (45+2'), Winks (76'), Bergwijn (87')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Lacazette (16')
Lacazette (45'), Pepe (61'), Saka (90')

Jose Mourinho sets sights on winning Europa League with Tottenham Hotspur

Jose Mourinho sets sights on winning Europa League with Tottenham Hotspur
© Reuters
Jose Mourinho has already won the Europa League and the competition in its former guise as the UEFA Cup twice with Manchester United and Porto.

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has set his sights on winning next season's Europa League – if his side can qualify.

Spurs took a big step towards reaching the second-tier European competition after beating Arsenal 2-1 in the first ever north London derby at their new home thanks to Toby Alderweireld's late goal.

They moved above the Gunners into eighth, a position which would seal qualification if Manchester City's European ban is upheld on Monday morning, and are back in the race for seventh as well.

Mourinho has already won the Europa League and the competition in its former guise as the UEFA Cup twice and wants his side to allow him a crack at a third.

"I would love to play Europa League," he said. "It is not a competition I am in love with, it is not a competition that I like very, very much to play, but when you cannot play the Champions League, you play the Europa League.

"In my career I have only played the Europa League twice and I have won it twice. It would not be bad to play a third time and win it a third time. We have to fight until the end to finish in a Europa League place.

"If you ask (six-time Formula One world champion) Lewis Hamilton if he wants to win Formula Two, I don't think it will be a great deal for him, but it is a competition and I prefer to play Europa League than to not play.

Mourinho wants to qualify for next season's Europa League
Mourinho wants to qualify for next season's Europa League (Michael Regan/NMC Pool)

"I think it is a title Tottenham would obviously (like to) get. I think we should do everything possible to play Europa League next season and we have to fight for that."

While the victory helps Spurs' European ambitions, it dealt a major blow to Arsenal's.

Boss Mikel Arteta has vowed to keep on fighting until all hope has gone.

His side were in front through Alexandre Lacazette's first-half screamer before a defensive howler allowed Son Heung-min to equalise, with Alderweireld then left unmarked at a late corner.

"Points-wise it is a massive blow because we know the results this weekend, but we will keep trying until we have no hope," he said.

"This is who we are. We are fighting in two different ways, one in the league and won in the FA Cup. Will we do our best and try and finish as strong as possible.

"I am disappointed and frustrated and really sorry for the boys because of the way they played and showed who we are.

"But you give the two goals away that we have given, against these players it is very difficult to win a derby.

"If we minimise the mistakes we do and keep playing like that we are going to win many, many, many football matches because we are going to make it very difficult for opponents."

ID:406304:

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho pictured on July 6, 2020
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLiverpool38323385335299
2Manchester CityMan City392739106357184
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd381812866363066
4Chelsea392061369571266
5Leicester CityLeicester381881267412662
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs3816111161471459
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves381514951401159
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd391512124239357
9Arsenal381414105648856
10Burnley38159144350-754
11Southampton38157165160-952
12Everton381310154456-1249
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381111163858-2044
14Crystal Palace381110173150-1943
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton38914153954-1541
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham38109194962-1339
17Aston Villa3898214167-2635
RBournemouth3897224065-2534
RWatford39810213668-3234
RNorwich CityNorwich3856272675-4921

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