Emmanuel Adebayor Sheyi, who was fined for a delayed return to the club after the CAN, is set to make a comeback this Thursday against Lyon in the Europa League round of 16. Tottenham Hotspur’s coach, André Vilas-Boas, is relying on the Togolese striker to make a significant impact in the first leg and establish a strong position ahead of the return match at Gerland. Vilas-Boas has emphasized the importance of the Europa League, making it a priority for the team.
Vilas-Boas expressed the team’s ambitions in the competition, stating, “We have ambitions in this Cup. It would be good to win a trophy this season, and as that seems compromised in the championship…”
In a tactical decision, the French goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, a former Lyon player, will not be in the starting lineup. Vilas-Boas clarified that this choice is unrelated to Lloris’s history with Lyon but rather follows a predetermined plan. He explained, “What happened when Hugo was not playing in the Championship is preserved. At the time, he was playing in the Europa League. So it’s Brad Friedel’s turn now. It’s important to respect what we have done and said, even if I know the emotion that it can represent for Hugo.”
