Bentley: Spurs can break into top four
David Bentley is convinced his arrival will help Tottenham break the so-called Big Four’s iron grip on Champions League qualification.
Spurs have repeatedly failed to live up to expectations of reaching the lucrative and prestigious European club competition.
Manager Juande Ramos was recruited from Sevilla last year and tasked with breaking into the top four, after replacing Martin Jol, whose failure to do so cost him his job. The Spaniard capped an encouraging first season by winning the Carling Cup, although Spurs finished a distant 11th in the Premier League.
But after a summer of transfer activity, Bentley, a £17m arrival from Blackburn, believes the club are well-equipped for another tilt.
“We can do anything we want, anything we put our minds to,” said the England midfielder. “You’ve seen what Juande Ramos did last year; the fitness and level of play has risen and I want to be part of that. Hopefully we’ll keep progressing and doing well. It’s all there for us. If we’re all up for it it’s quite possible.”
Bentley might be expected to take particular satisfaction if Tottenham’s elevation to the top four comes at the expense of his former club Arsenal.
The 23-year-old came through the ranks at the Gunners before moving to Ewood Park in 2006 in search of regular first team football.
But Bentley was yesterday at pains to emphasise his long-standing ties with White Hart Lane and said those with the red half of north London had been severed.
“It means the world to join Tottenham,” he said. “Gazza was my favourite player, all my mates are Tottenham fans and there’s a piece of my heart at this club.
“I grew up through the Arsenal youth team but it’s not a problem for me. All my heart is at Tottenham and all my passion will be tunnelled into doing well for Tottenham.”
Ramos will now focus on signing a striker, with talks ongoing over Russian pair Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko.