SO KEANE TO WIN TROPHY
IT IS 22 years since Tottenham could claim to be top dogs in north London – and 56 years since they lorded it over the rest of England. But now after an insufferable wait, Spurs favourite Robbie Keane (left) reckons his former club are on the cusp of greatness. Having played through an era where Spurs seemed to be nothing more than a feeder club to Manchester United and Real Madrid, former Ireland skipper Keane insists the days of the club flogging their best players belongs to the past. However, he does worry for their future if Mauricio Pochettino is headhunted by either Real Madrid or Barcelona. Keane, 36, said: “Tottenham were always a team who sold their players so have had to get away from being tagged a selling club. “Now I think they have. “If Real or Barca came in for one of your players – or your manager – well that is a different scenario. “But if it was an English team, they could GARRY DOYLE turn around and say, ‘Well, we’re as big as you now’. The future is bright.”
Spurs are already on 74 points, which is their highest tally in the Premier League.
And with five games to go, they stand an outside chance of winning their first title since 1961. If they win today’s north London derby, they are GUARANTEED to finish ahead of their biggest rivals for the first time since the 1994-95 season.
And Keane – who was trapped in Arsenal’s shadow during his two spells at White Hart Lane – feels it’s crucial Spurs get bragging rights over their neighbours.
Keane said: “It’s a massive deal. We were up against Arsenal at a time when they were dominant.
“I scored a last-minute equaliser against them in 2003-04 and felt great. But that draw clinched the title for Arsenal on our ground so they had more to cheer about.
“We had some great games against them but they always seemed to come out on top and were always winning things then.
“That’s where Tottenham has fallen short but they are definitely on the right path to achieving something fairly soon.
“Their training ground is the best I have seen anywhere. And the new stadium will help too.
“But if you asked any fan right now, they would all uniformly say the most important thing is for them to win a trophy as they haven’t done it for many years.”
By contrast, Arsenal appear to be on the road to nowhere.
But under-fire boss Arsene Wenger found an unlikely ally in Keane, scorer of 122 goals in eight years at Spurs, who is “disgusted” by the abuse the Frenchman has received from his own supporters.
Keane said: “The job he has done there has been absolutely exceptional.
“He completely turned the club around, has always had them in the Champions League so it is sad to see all the signs going around, saying, ‘WENGER OUT’.
“The abuse he is getting is disgusting to be honest with you, considering the job he has done. I can’t get my head around it.” Robbie Keane was speaking at the Aer Lingus launch of
their North American seat sale