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Defoe: This is the best Spurs squad I've seen

Jermain Defoe is enjoying life under Andre Villas-Boas © PA Photos

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Jermain Defoe believes Andre Villas-Boas has assembled the most talented squad he has been a part of at Tottenham and suggested 'the sky is the limit' for Spurs in over next few years.

In comments that may not be appreciated by former manager Harry Redknapp, Defoe has suggested the atmosphere around Tottenham this season is a step ahead of anything he has experienced since he first joined the club in 2004, with the positive mood enhanced by Sunday's north London derby win against Arsenal.

"I've been here for many years now and in my opinion, in terms of team spirit, this is the best it has been," stated Defoe. "The buzz around the training ground is fantastic. Everyone is putting their work in and even the players who are injured are working really hard to get back.

"That winning mentality we have got now helps us to keep going when things are not going our way. That is a good thing to have.

"I have to say I think this is the best squad since I've been here. I was having a joke with Scott Parker yesterday and I was saying that sometimes when you have a knock and you can't train, you just have to try and stay on it.

"If you are injured, someone else will come in and do well because this is such a good team to play in now. To stay in this team, you have to play well and take your chance and everyone is buzzing at the minute.

"You could see the way we played against Arsenal on Sunday. The intensity of the way we moved the ball around was spot on. We got the goals and it was a big win.

"Arsenal are still a great team, so you can't write them off, but we feel like we have good competition for places here now and it is a great time to be at this club. For us, the sky is the limit."

Defoe went on to heap praise on boss Andre Villas-Boas, who he believes has shown more faith in him that a succession of Spurs managers who often used the England striker as their back-up option.

"The boss has done a lot for me," he added. "The main thing was giving me the opportunity to play minutes on the pitch. That helps, especially being a forward and when you are scoring goals, it's even better."

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