Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lewis Holtby has insisted that his side must respond quickly from their Europa League exit to secure a top-four finish.
Spurs went out in Europe on penalties to FC Basel in midweek, after hanging on in extra time with 10 men following Jan Vertonghen's late red card.
With a 10-day break until their next Premier League clash against Manchester City the January signing has declared that his side deserve the chance to play Champions League football next season.
He told PA: "The belief is very strong that we can make the Champions League. Whenever we have disappointment we bounce back. We have shown that in the past. We fight back and play good football.
"On Thursday we had a lot of possession. To play with 10 men for the last 30 minutes in the rain on that pitch was hard. I was proud to be a Tottenham player. We want to go in to the Champions League next year and I think we deserve to.
"Now we just have to bounce back. We have some very big Premier League fixtures coming up now so we have to put our heads up high and do our best. I think the break will be beneficial."
Spurs sit two points clear in fourth place, but top-four rivals Arsenal have a game in hand on their bitter rivals as the race hots up for Champions League qualification.
Liam Power
