THREE INTO TWO WON’T GO
LAMELA: Tottenham must now show real character to stay in the top four and keep our fans and ourselves happy
ERIK LAMELA is urging his Tottenham team-mates to show their character and hold on to a Champions League place.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men must win home games at Wembley against Newcastle tomorrow night and Leicester on Sunday to guarantee a top-four place.
Slip up in either and Chelsea – on a four-game Premier League winning streak – could pip them at the death.
It has set up a tense finish to the season for both the capital’s underachievers.
Lamela said: “We have to show character, in every game. The last two games at home, in front of our people, we have to win both to make them happy and also for us.”
Stuttering Spurs sit fourth in the Premier League, just two points ahead of Chelsea, who welcome Huddersfield tomorrow and go to Newcastle on the final day.
Spurs have won just one of their last four top-flight matches and were stunned by West Brom on Saturday in a huge upset at the Hawthorns, the first time they had failed to score in 24 Premier League games stretching back to a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal in November.
England striker Harry Kane has scored only three times in his last 10 games in all competitions.
Lamela admitted Spurs have no margin for error with the pressure on – and Chelsea smelling blood.
The Argentinian said: “We have to win both games. I think we can do it, at home especially, to finish the season well. This is good because we don’t have to wait too much after the defeat, but we have to finish the season well because the team deserves it.
“I went home angry because I expected to win on Saturday. It was a difficult afternoon and I don’t know what to say. Unfortunately, we lost to a goal at the end.
“We tried to put all the effort into winning the game, they just defended all the time and it was so difficult to score as they were so close at the back.
“We tried to score but we knew that if we don’t open the game, at the end it’s more difficult because West Bromwich had belief then.” Spurs face a fight to land Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt (left). The 18-year-old is in their sights as Toby Alderweireld is set to leave this summer after failing to agree a new deal.
But Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain is understood to have made contact with Ajax over a deal. Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also interested. De Ligt fancies life in England and Spurs will not be able to rival City when it comes to wages.