Adebayor: I’ll make amends for derby dismissal against Lazio
Emmanuel Adebayor is determined to make amends for his derby dismissal against Arsenal with a decisive display against Lazio tonight.
Spurs travel to Rome to face the Group J leaders as the top two teams lock horns, and a victory against the Serie A side would secure early qualification given that Maribor face Lazio on the final matchday and cannot both win.
Adebayor is about to start a three-match suspension in the Premier League, but he is eligible to play in Europe – and he is anxious to make an impact.
“We’ve got the Europa League on Thursday and I will be able to play that game and give 100 per cent, knowing that I will not be able to help the team for a week,” he told Spurs TV.
“That’s how lucky I am, I miss three games [in the league] but all those three games happen in a week, so I hope we do our best.
“I’m sad, I’m disappointed. I was so happy to get my first goal of the season, but it was just a 50/50 and I went for it and the referee decided to give a red card.
“It’s difficult to let the team down like that – they had to play 70 minutes without me. That’s football and we keep learning from our mistakes – especially me.
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“After scoring I didn’t have to tackle. I don’t know why I did that. I just wanted to help my team-mates, I wanted to win the ball back for them and it went the wrong way.”
Given that Jermain Defoe is the only striker who will be available for the next three league games, Villas-Boas is likely to play Adebayor up front by himself against Lazio this evening.
The Italians will present a stern test, given that they have won seven of their nine home games in all competitions this season, losing just once against Genoa.
Currently sitting fifth in Serie A, they have conceded just two goals in their six European outings this season, and kept a clean sheet in the goalless draw at the Lane in September – albeit surviving two disallowed goals.
Follow me on Twitter @BenPearceSpurs
