Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho not 'in love with' Europa League but still hopes to win it a third time

Spurs boss says it's better to play in a European competition than none at all

Toby Alderweireld heads home Spurs' winner in their 2-1 derby victory over Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, on Sunday, July 12, 2020. EPA

Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld, right, celebrates the winner with Harry Winks. Reuters

Tottenham's Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring his side's first goal against Arsenal. AP

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. PA

Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe in possession. PA

Dejected Arsenal players after Tottenham's late goal. AFP

Tottenham's Son Heung-min scores his side's first goal. PA

Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette blasts home the opening goal. AP

General view of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Getty

Spurs manager Jose Mourinho. Getty

Alexandre Lacazette celebrates the opening goal with teammates. PA

Shkodran Mustafi of Arsenal. Getty

Son Heung-min runs at the Arsenal defence. AP

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho is targeting winning next season's Europa League if his team qualifies, despite admitting admitting it is "not a competition I am in love with".

Spurs took a big step towards reaching the second-tier European competition with a 2-1 win against Arsenal on Sunday thanks to Toby Alderweireld's late goal.

Mourinho has already won the Europa League with Manchester United and with Porto – when it was the Uefa Cup – and wants his side to allow him a crack at a third.

"I would love to play Europa League," said the Spurs boss, whose side are eighth in the Premier League table.

Seventh place could be enough to secure qualification, depending on results in the FA Cup.

"It is not a competition I am in love with, it is not a competition that I like very, very much to play, but when you cannot play the Champions League, you play the Europa League," added Mourinho.

"In my career I have only played the Europa League twice and I have won it twice. It would not be bad to play a third time and win it a third time. We have to fight until the end to finish in a Europa League place.

"If you ask [six-time Formula One world champion] Lewis Hamilton if he wants to win Formula Two, I don't think it will be a great deal for him, but it is a competition and I prefer to play Europa League than to not play."

While the victory helped Spurs' European ambitions, it dealt a major blow to Arsenal's.

Meanwhile, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has promised to keep on fighting. His side were in front through Alexandre Lacazette's first-half screamer before a defensive howler allowed Son Heung-min to equalise, with Alderweireld then left unmarked at a late corner.

"Points-wise it is a massive blow because we know the results this weekend, but we will keep trying until we have no hope," he said.

"This is who we are. We are fighting in two different ways, one in the league and one in the FA Cup. Will we do our best and try and finish as strong as possible."