• Europa League

Villas-Boas: Basel a difficult draw

ESPN staff
March 15, 2013
Andre Villas-Boas says Tottenham will not be underestimating FC Basel © Getty Images
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Andre Villas-Boas believes his Tottenham side have been handed "a difficult draw" after they were paired up with FC Basel in the Europa League quarter-final draw on Friday.

Spurs made it into the last eight after narrowly squeezing past Inter Milan on away goals on Thursday, while a ten-man Basel managed to hold onto their 2-0 lead against Zenit St Petersburg from the first leg, losing 1-0 in the return game.

Villas-Boas is well aware of the threat the side sitting second in the Swiss Super League pose, and says their European track record means they have to be taken seriously.

"It's a difficult draw," he told the club's official website. "Basel have enjoyed some amazing results in Europe in the last three years, particularly against Manchester United, Bayern [Munich] and Benfica.

"This is a team that has put out Zenit [St Petersburg], who in turn had beaten Liverpool in the previous round, so that shows the quality of the side.

"I'm happy that it's a short trip for our fans and their stadium is magnificent."

Spurs welcome Basel to White Hart Lane on April 4 before heading to Switzerland for the return leg on April 11.

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