Tottenham 1-4 Villarreal: Daily Mirror pre-season match report
Published 21:53 29/07/10 By Darren Lewis
Spurs were given a glimpse of the gap in class they must bridge if they want to reach the Champions League group stages.
Three stylish finishes from ex-Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi saw Villarreal - who are not even in next season's competition - ease to victory in this pre-season friendly.
And the way in which his side were outmanouvred will surely see boss Harry Redknapp step up his bid to reinforce the team ahead of their qualifier later this month.
Despite the fact that this was a balmy, pre-season night in north London, the calm before the storm, the way in which Tottenham were punished for not taking their chances served as a warning for the tougher tests that lie ahead.
Aaron Lennon bottled out of sticking away a volley when he should have got his body behind it. Too few players piled into the box when the lively Robbie Keane made it to the byline. And young Danny Rose had a rush of blood, shooting from too far out when he could have tested the keeper if he had moved closer in.
If only they had had the composure of Rossi, whose assured left-foot finish from Cani's through ball left keeper Heurelho Gomes with no chance on 21 minutes.
Ten minutes later there was more of the same. This time is was captain and accomplished midfielder Marcos Senna whose through ball was missed by Michael Dawson. Rossi had all the time in the world to pick his spot and he did.
Not good enough from Spurs against a team that finished seventh in La Liga while Redknapp's men came fourth in supposedly the most competitive League in the world.
Not good enough against a team whose season in Spain starts later than our Premier League campaign.
Not good enough from a Tottenham team that contained seven senior stars with only Ledley King, Luka Modric, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Wilson Palacios and David Bentley not in the squad.
New signing Sandro is still in Brazil competing in the Copa Libertedores while Jamie O'Hara claimed on his Twitter page last night that he was not involved because he has a back injury. Midfielder Jermaine Jenas started the match but was near to tears after what appeared to be a recurrence of the groin injury that has kept him out since February.
Its doubtful anyway whether any of the players not involved would have made an impact against a Villarreal team boasting nine Spanish players. The country can do no wrong at present and Villarreal will be tough oppponents in the coming season's Europa League.
They will play in the competition after being the beneficiaries of Real Mallorca's expulsion due to financial irregularities.
Sub Giovani Dos Santos shot dragged the north Londoners back into it with a clipped finish on 56 minutes. But razor-sharp Rossi re-established the lead for the visitors - and completed his hat-trick - on 70 minutes when his long-range drive was deflected in off Vedran Corluka.
The Spanish side should have made it four on 73 minutes when Button suffered a rush of blood and raced out to a throw in, leaving the goal to the mercy of substitute winger Jefferson Montero. But just as he prepared to tap the ball into the net he was nudged in the back by Assou-Ekotto and the ball flew wide. How referee Kevin Friend failed to award a penalty only he will know.
Yet Villarreal were back again trying to rubber-stamp the victory just two minutes later. But this time another sub, striker Marco Ruben, was guilty of a glaring miss from point-blank range after good work on the right from Montero.
A good night at the office for Villarreal was completed in style as Ruben tapped home a fourth from fellow sub Borja Valero's cross.
But Redknapp was left rueing the club's decision to jet out to America for their pre-season after Jermaine Jenas became their latest casualty, limping off during the first half last night with a groin strain.
The Spurs boss already has Luka Modric and Roman Pavlyuchenko out with hamstring injuries while Wilson Palacios has a groin injuries.
Redknapp added: "That is what happen when you schlep all reound the world. Pav and Luka got injured in America. It can happen when you are travelling.
"If you look at our schedule, it's crazy. We pile more games in. The last thing we need is games, I need to get them on the training pitch. I need to work them.
"Too many games have been scheduled. I didn't want this game. We haven't been able to work on the training pitch and that's important."
