Rafael eyes improvement

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    20110401

    Rafael eyes improvement

    Van der Vaart: Eyes on top-four

    We do very well against the bigger clubs but we mess up too much against the smaller sides.

    Rafael van der Vaart
    Quotes of the week

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    Rafael van der Vaart insists Spurs need to improve against the lesser sides if they want to cement a place in the top four this season.

    Tottenham are battling to achieve back-to-back UEFA Champions League qualifications, but they are currently four points adrift of Manchester City in fourth, although they have a game in hand.

    Spurs, who have made it to the last eight of the Champions League in their maiden season in Europe’s top club competition, have struggled against perceived weaker teams in the league and their last three Premier League matches have taken just two points from Blackpool, Wolves and West Ham.

    And van der Vaart admits that is not good enough, saying: “Tottenham are still in the process of developing. In our last three games against Blackpool, Wolves and West Ham we’ve taken two points.

    Stupid

    “But it ought to have been nine points and that is stupid. We do very well against the bigger clubs but we mess up too much against the smaller sides. Maybe that is the final step we need to take?

    Van der Vaart also insists he is more than happy with life in North London.

    “The fact I’m not linked with top clubs does not matter to me. I don’t intend to leave Spurs after a year,” he said.

    “You have to be ambitious. I want to win trophies and I think I can do that every year with Tottenham.”

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