Tottenham manager Martin Jol believes his side will have to play "better than ever" if they are to knock defending champions Sevilla out of the UEFA Cup.
Both Spurs and Sevilla are among the favourites to win this year's tournament, with the Spanish side looking to become only the second club in history to retain the trophy after Real Madrid.
Spurs are in fine form heading into tomorrow night's quarter-final first leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium with five successive league wins, but Jol feels they will need to produce something special to get past Sevilla.
The Dutchman said today: "We have to play well, we have to play better than ever."
Sevilla are currently second in the Primera Liga, two points behind leaders Barcelona, and have lost just twice at home all season, once in the league and once in the UEFA Cup.
"I saw them against Barcelona (last year) and they were the better team. They played for the Super Cup against Barcelona and they beat them 3-0," Jol added.
"They won the UEFA Cup, they are second in La Liga so what can I say?
"It will be a hell of a fight but for us it is important to get a good result because our home record is very good as well."
Spurs have not won any silverware since their 1999 League Cup win over Leicester and the UEFA Cup represents their last realistic chance of ending that run this season.
However, Jol insists he would not consider it a failure if they failed to get past Sevilla, a side he holds in high regard.
"If you have to play against the strongest team of course its not a failure," he said.
"They won the UEFA Cup last year and I still feel they are probably the favourites this year."
As much as he respects Sevilla, Jol also believes his side have what it takes to make it through to the semi-finals.
Last weekend's 1-0 victory over Reading lifted Spurs up to sixth in the Barclays Premiership standings, while they have won 11 of their 16 league games at home.
"They (Sevilla) have got a terrific home record, it is an away match but luckily enough this is a round with two matches and they still have to come to White Hart Lane as well, so we give ourselves a chance.
"We feel we have got a very talented team and for us its not only trying to wins things and achieve something, but for us it is important to gain experience as well for my team."
Spurs are in fine form heading into tomorrow night's quarter-final first leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium with five successive league wins, but Jol feels they will need to produce something special to get past Sevilla.
The Dutchman said today: "We have to play well, we have to play better than ever."
Sevilla are currently second in the Primera Liga, two points behind leaders Barcelona, and have lost just twice at home all season, once in the league and once in the UEFA Cup.
"I saw them against Barcelona (last year) and they were the better team. They played for the Super Cup against Barcelona and they beat them 3-0," Jol added.
"They won the UEFA Cup, they are second in La Liga so what can I say?
"It will be a hell of a fight but for us it is important to get a good result because our home record is very good as well."
Spurs have not won any silverware since their 1999 League Cup win over Leicester and the UEFA Cup represents their last realistic chance of ending that run this season.
However, Jol insists he would not consider it a failure if they failed to get past Sevilla, a side he holds in high regard.
"If you have to play against the strongest team of course its not a failure," he said.
"They won the UEFA Cup last year and I still feel they are probably the favourites this year."
As much as he respects Sevilla, Jol also believes his side have what it takes to make it through to the semi-finals.
Last weekend's 1-0 victory over Reading lifted Spurs up to sixth in the Barclays Premiership standings, while they have won 11 of their 16 league games at home.
"They (Sevilla) have got a terrific home record, it is an away match but luckily enough this is a round with two matches and they still have to come to White Hart Lane as well, so we give ourselves a chance.
"We feel we have got a very talented team and for us its not only trying to wins things and achieve something, but for us it is important to gain experience as well for my team."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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