By DAN KING
JERMAIN DEFOE’S hat-trick last night helped Andre Villas-Boas bounce back with a morale-boosting Europa League victory.
Tottenham boss AVB was jeered last Saturday during defeat to Wigan but Defoe helped sink NK Maribor.
And the striker admitted: “It was a lot better to be honest.
“It was important to bounce back from the result at the weekend.
“We pressed high from the first minute, the tempo and movement were good and we kept the ball better. Everyone is delighted.”
Defoe has been rested by England boss Roy Hodgson for next week’s friendly against Sweden but showed his form by taking his tally to eight for the season.
The 30-year-old added: “It’s amazing.
“As a forward you are judged on scoring goals and it is the best feeling in the world.”
Spurs are now second in Group J behind Lazio — and winger Gareth Bale reckons the Londoners can win the tournament.
He said: “Everyone wants to be playing in the Champions League but this is the next best thing.
“So we’ve all put 100 per cent in to each game and taken the competition seriously — hopefully we can win this one.”
Boss AVB changed his formation to play Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor up front in a 4-4-2 – and was delighted with the results.
He said: “It was brilliant from the beginning. We had possession and attacking football. It was a game we controlled from the beginning and it was really brilliant to see us play like this.”
But he then hinted at changing back to one striker in attack when Spurs face Manchester City on Sunday.
He added: “It’s four steps up in the level in the competition at the weekend so it is a different game and different scenario.”
