Thursday, August 29, 2013
Tottenham Hotspur vs Dinamo Tbilisi
Andre Villas-Boas has praised Tottenham's "winning mentality" as the club aims to make certain of a place in the Europa League group stage.
Tottenham welcome Dinamo Tbilisi to White Hart Lane on Thursday virtually assured of progressing, boasting a 5-0 lead after the first leg of their qualifying play-off with the Georgian champions last week.
Two of Tottenham's close-season signings, Paulinho and Roberto Soldado, were on target against Dinamo, with the latter helping himself to a brace.
Soldado also converted penalties in 1-0 wins against Crystal Palace and Swansea City, meaning Tottenham are yet to concede a goal this season in competitive action.
Hardly surprising, then, that Villas-Boas has paid tribute to the way his recent recruits have settled quickly, with Etienne Capoue another new boy to impress.
"All of the new signings plus the team are very, very committed to achieving our objectives this season, so this start is a good one," Villas-Boas told BBC Sport.
"They (the new signings) are bonding in very well within the squad.
"The squad are great professionals and they want to succeed this season and I think the fact that they see these new players arriving and the way they are helping the team always creates a winning mentality that we have to have.
"Alongside what they bring on the pitch, they also bring outside the pitch with this mentality."
Given Tottenham's commanding lead in the tie, coupled with the fact that a Premier League derby clash with Arsenal looms large on Sunday, Villas-Boas is likely to make wholesale changes.
Domestically, Dinamo have won one and drawn one in their first two games of the new Umaglesi Liga campaign.
Manager Dusan Uhrin Jr instantly endeared himself to the club's supporters last season following his appointment in July 2012 as he steered Dinamo to a league and cup double.
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