Jol facing Uefa Cup 'crisis'

Martin Jol says Spurs are facing the 'worst defensive crisis' they have had all season.

Martin Jol says Spurs are facing the 'worst defensive crisis' they have had all season ahead of their Uefa Cup quarter-final match against Sevilla on Thursday, but still feels that this is his team's moment.

With Anthony Gardner, Lee Young-Pyo, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Paul Stalteri all ruled out through injury and Ricardo Rocha cup-tied, Jol looks set to use Ledley King for the first time since Christmas.

King has been out with a foot injury throughout the new year and, although he has yet to fully recover, Jol feels he has no option but to bring him back into the side.

"It's the worst defensive crisis we've had all season," he said.

"Ledley is very close, although he didn't train today because he felt something (in his foot).

"Normally he wouldn't be in the squad, but he said he's ready to go. He wanted to start at Chelsea on Saturday."

Despite the absentees and with a 2-1 deficit to overturn from the first leg in Spain, Jol remains confident going into the game.

Manchester United were also 2-1 down from the first leg when Roma visited Old Trafford in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, but Sir Alex Ferguson's men turned in an outstanding display to win 7-1 on the night and 8-3 on aggregate, and Jol wants to emulate their approach.

"That was the best result in Europe for five years. It was unbelievable.

"It showed if you start with a high tempo and have players who can fill the spaces behind the strikers, European sides can have problems.

"Sevilla have very good players, but we controlled the first leg in spells and I feel that this is our moment."