Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg answers if UCL elimination will be a ‘failure’ for Tottenham Hotspur
Speaking at the press conference ahead of the UEFA Champions League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Olympique de Marseille at the Stade Velodrome later this week, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was asked if a loss would be a ‘failure’ for Spurs.
Spurs are in a delicate situation where defeat means they are out of the group stage. They thought they won it late against Sporting CP on matchday 5 only for the winner to be ruled out by VAR.
Answering the question at hand (h/t Football.London), Hojbjerg refused to address the exact wordings that were asked of him. Instead of saying if it was a failure or not on Spurs’ part if they don’t qualify, he just went with a diplomatic answer.
“Our ambition is definitely to go through. This is the number one. The key and ambition is to go to the knock-out stages in the Champions League and this is what we are playing for 100 per cent.”
Perhaps his implication is that it would be a failure if Spurs don’t qualify for the knockout rounds. Moreover, the question is itself self-explanatory.
No Spurs player or fan will be walking out of the game against OM thinking they have succeeded or done satisfactorily in some way if the club doesn’t manage at least a point.
Hojbjerg will be crucial for us against OM. He is the one that shields the defence alongside Rodrigo Bentancur and lately, he has been involved in a few goals for us up the pitch.
Spurs are currently top of the group and lost only once this campaign in Europe. It would be unfathomable to exit this group especially after we were drawn teams that weren’t at the level of some of the other European superclubs.
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No team in our group would be odds-on to win the UEFA Champions League this season. Dark horses, yes, but no way are these teams that should be dumping us out of Europe.
