Spurs boss reveals why he left Jermain Defoe on the bench against Man City

Tottenham Hotspur's Jermain Defoe. Photo credit: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

By Tom Moore, at The Etihad Stadium Sunday, November 11, 2012
9:51 PM

Tottenham head coach Andre Villas-Boas insists that it was in the team’s interests that he left Jermain Defoe out of his starting XI against Manchester City.

The England international, who scored a hat-trick in the Europa League against Maribor on Thursday, was left on the bench at the Etihad with former City striker Emmanuel Adebayor selected.

“It was very very difficult because we spoke with Jermain,” Villas-Boas said.

“We wanted to use his qualities and different type of game and I think he had a good performance.

“It’s difficult to leave Jermain out when he is in such good form.

“He understood that it was in the team’s best interest. He’s back in contention for the game against Arsenal.”