Palhinha: Tottenham must focus on Premier League after Frankfurt win

João Palhinha said Tottenham must concentrate on the Premier League after their 2-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday, rejecting talk of the club winning the Champions League. Asked if Spurs could win the competition as he left the stadium, Palhinha chuckled and said: “I know what you want to hear from me.” He added: “It’s not about winning the Champions League… The main thing is we did our qualification responsibly with a lot of respect and we deserve to complete this qualification.

The focus right now will be on the Premier League.” The win put Spurs among the top four teams in Europe after the Champions League league phase and on a fast-track to the last 16, even as Tottenham sit 14th in the Premier League, with “two wins out of 14 in the competition” and are out of both domestic cups.

Supporters have already dubbed themselves “the champions of Europe” after last season’s Europa League success. Palhinha, described as the 30-year-old in the report, filled in at right centre-half as Thomas Frank fielded a side affected by an injury and eligibility crisis that left him able to call on only 11 established outfield players.

The midfield’s performance was described as energetic and controlled, with Frank sticking to a 3-4-2-1 system.

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