• Premier League

Holtby wants trophies at Tottenham

Lewis Holtby has yet to start a game in the Premier League © PA Photos

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Tottenham midfielder Lewis Holtby believes the club have "a big chance of winning something" this season and is expecting to challenge for trophies in every competition.

Holtby, 23, has yet to start a Premier League game for Spurs this season but has featured from the off in three cup matches - including Tuesday's Capital One Cup thrashing of Aston Villa.

The Germany midfielder is now looking to win a more permanent place in Andre Villas-Boas' starting XI, and targeting Tottenham's first trophy since the 2008 League Cup.

"Silverware is silverware. There's four cups to play for and you want to win all of them," Holtby said. "If you want to go to the top as a professional footballer you try to win every game and you try to win every trophy.

"That's what we are trying to do and we just have to work like we have as a team the last couple of weeks. We have a big chance of winning something but it is a very long season."

Spurs have won eight of their nine matches in all competitions this season with their sole defeat coming in the North London derby against Arsenal earlier this month.

The club's second major Premier League fixture of the season comes this Saturday against Chelsea at White Hart Lane and when asked if a win against the Blues was necessary to prove Tottenham's title credentials, Holtby offered a firm response.

"Absolutely, especially for ourselves," he said. "I don't want to put that word [title] in the mouth but we are aiming for very high things. We want to get in the top four, we want to play Champions League. That is the main aim. I think we have the squad to do that, the quality and depth as well.

"It's early in the season. Unfortunately we lost the derby [against Arsenal 1-0] but we did the job in winning against the teams beneath us. We have to keep that up. Especially against Chelsea in the London derby, it is very important to win a big game like that to stay up top and give us the confidence we need."

Holtby's path to playing regular Premier League football has been blocked by new arrival Christian Eriksen, whose impressive performances are keeping the former Schalke midfielder out of the Tottenham team.

But Holtby insists he has bonded well with Eriksen, saying: "I get on with Christian very well. Off the pitch we do a lot of things. I wanted to come here. I could have stayed at Schalke, I could have played there all the time. But I wanted this challenge and to fulfil my dream of playing in the Premier League for a top, top club. Tottenham is going places and I'm happy to be part of it.

"I'm 23, I'm still young, I'm learning and progressing. And if I keep that momentum up, which I am doing right now, then I will get my chance to play, for sure. I have to show when I get the opportunity that I can produce something.

"If I keep working hard and putting on pressure it is going to be a very tough decision [as to who the manager picks] but we have so many games. I just saw the other day that we have eight games in December, January coming up and a tough November. You have to be prepared and up for it.

"At Bayern Munich everyone just did their work, did their job last season - that's why they won every title. They are always patient, they all work for the team, and that's how I see it here. If you keep producing things like we have done in the last couple weeks, then we have big things to do."

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