Former Arsenal midfielder hoping to hang Jol out to dry - 26 Oct 2007
Taking pride of place in John Jensen's trophy room hangs a commemorative T-shirt celebrating his only goal for Arsenal. Tonight the Getafe assistant manager is hoping to hang Martin Jol out to dry.
The Tottenham boss knows he needs a win to relieve the pressure on his job, but Jensen will be sitting in the opposition dug-out feeling the same desire to beat Spurs as when he was playing in the north London derby for Arsenal.
Jensen is assistant to Denmark legend Michael Laudrup at the unfancied Spanish side, but he can't wait to pile more misery on Arsenal's fierce rivals. He said: “We are playing the worst opponent, as a former Arsenal player. I'm really looking forward to going back to White Hart Lane and hopefully winning against them. “I still feel the old rivalry.
I talk to old Arsenal players all the time and my love of the club is the same. “It's good to play an opponent when they are having a bad spell and short of confidence and while they will be favourites, we feel that we can do something. They have conceded a lot of goals lately and have been a big disappointment in the Premier League.”
Jensen was a member of the last Arsenal team to finish below Tottenham in the Premier League in 1995, but he can't see Spurs improving on that stat soon. He added: “In the last 15 years, Arsenal have always been one or two steps ahead of them and I think that will continue for a few more years, especially with Arsene Wenger still in charge.
“I know there was a lot of talk in the summer that this would be Spurs' year to do it, but they have been disappointing, while Arsenal have done much better than expected. I can't remember Tottenham ever finishing above Arsenal let alone when I was at the club.” The 42-year-old spent four years at Arsenal after scoring the second in Denmark's 2-0 win over Germany in the final of Euro '92, but only found the net once in the Premier League.
Arsenal printed special shirts to commemorate his goal in the 3-1 defeat to QPR in December 1994 and Jensen said: “I went into the club shop to get the T-shirt two or three days after they'd gone on sale but they had already sold out! "Luckily the man behind the counter had saved one especially for me and it is hanging up in the room next to the shirt I wore in the final against Germany.” Jensen and Laudrup have lofty managerial ambitions.
“There are two leagues we want to manage in, Spain and England,” added Jensen. “We come as a pair and we would love to be in charge of Arsenal one day.” That day may be some way off though judging by Getafe's terrible start to the season. The duo were finally able to celebrate their first league win since taking charge of the Madrid-based club in the summer when they beat Real Murcia 2-0.
Laudrup admitted he and Jensen have been grateful for the patience shown by president Angel Torres, especially with Getafe lying in the same spot as Spurs — third bottom of the league. “If we had been playing badly and without the style we want, I would have been sacked,” said Laudrup. “If I had been in Italy, where they only take into account the results, I would have been sacked some time ago. “Whenever I have spoken with the president, he has given me his support.
But I know this game and I know that the coach is the first to be sacrificed if the team do not get out of their crisis.” Getafe beat Dutch side FC Twente in the last round and midfielder Esteban Granero knows they have to build on that performance tonight. He said: “We know that Spurs have not started well, but we also know that they are a dangerous team, who have good players, and that the season is very long, so we shall see.”
[ 本帖最後由 jacksonkua 於 2007-10-26 10:55 AM 編輯 ] |