Determine not to quit! Villas-Boas takes responsibility as Liverpool mauling sparks fresh speculation over his future as Spurs boss
Andre Villas-Boas has pledged not to resign as Tottenham manager despite overseeing Spurs' heaviest-ever home league defeat to Liverpool.The under-fire Tottenham boss did, however, admit he did not know how much longer the club would give him to turn their season around.
Villas Boas said he has never faced a worse home loss in his career than the 5-0 Barclays Premier League drubbing at the hands of Brendan Rodgers' rampant Reds.
Glum: Andre Villas-Boas looks on his side are thumped 5-0 by Liverpool
Delight: Luis Suarez, captain for the day, celebrates after scoring the goal which set Liverpool on their way
Villas-Boas said he has no scheduled meeting with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, but claimed there is no problem with Spurs' board.
Liverpool captain Luis Suarez ran wild at White Hart Lane, scoring twice and having a hand in the goals for Jordan Henderson, John Flanagan and Raheem Sterling.
Villas-Boas vowed Tottenham would bounce back from this latest heavy defeat, after claiming they had managed to get over their 6-0 mauling at Manchester City last month.
And the Portuguese refused to give up on a top-four Premier League finish.
Asked how much time he would be given at Spurs, Villas-Boas said: 'That's the only thing I can't control, it's not my call so I can't say anything else.
'I have to get down to work, that's the only thing I can focus on.
'The call to make that decision is not mine, because obviously I won't resign and I'm not a quitter.
'The only thing I can do is work hard with the players to get them back on track.
'This is a top-four squad but in our Premier League form we are not there.
Red alert: Suarez was again irresistible for Liverpool and netted his side's fourth with a cute chip
Blame me: Villas-Boas says he will shoulder the responsibility for the loss
'It's the second expressive scoreline that we've suffered in the season, and we admit that in the Premier League things aren't going in any shape or form the way we want.
'All of us had high expectations for this season, we still have them.
'Again I repeat that we are not far off, but the distance is increasing for those Champions League spots.
'And because of the expressive result it makes it even more difficult for us to bounce back.'
Villas-Boas' rocky ride at White Hart Lane was not helped by a tweet from Benoit Assou-Ekotto, seeming to make light of the defeat with team-mate Emanuel Adebayor, who were both at the ground for the match.
Villas-Boas offered no argument with defeat, but felt Paulinho's second-half red card allowed Liverpool to pile on the goals, and the misery.
Confirming he would try to appeal that red card, Villas-Boas labelled the decision 'an extremely poor call'.
He said: 'I think it was a bit harsh because I don't think there was intention to hurt Suarez.
'His foot was high, definitely a yellow card, but a straight red I think is a bit too much, because Paulinho is not that type of player.
'I think it was an extremely poor call that has an influence, not on the victory of Liverpool but on the expressive result.
'I will try (to appeal the red card), hopefully there can be some sensitivity into it.'
Shot shy: Spurs failed to muster a single shot on target, much to the frustration of Roberto Soldado
Marching orders: Referee Jon Moss sends off Paulinho after he left Suarez stricken on the ground
Liverpool
manager Rodgers heaped praised on striker Luis Suarez, hinting that
captaincy can bring the best out of the prolific Uruguay forward.Suarez's brace took his Premier League goals tally to 17 for the season, but Rodgers was most concerned with his leadership skills.
Rodgers said: 'This is a guy who has captained one of the most iconic clubs in European football in Ajax, so it's nothing new to him.
'I wanted to have someone who could represent me and the club in that tunnel, before even stepping on the pitch.
'When Luis Suarez has the armband on ready to go out, everyone knows this is a team ready to fight.
'He was great in the changing room, I told him a few days back I wanted him to lead this club and that it was an honour for him.
'I think he enjoyed it and today you've seen his performance level.'
Hailing his side's dominance in every area, Rodgers said: 'I loved their arrogance with the ball today.
'They were a real threat with the ball all day.
'In winning teams everyone supports each other, and this was a result achieved without our captain Steven Gerrard.
'When we have that focus and concentration we're a very good side.'
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