‘I’m a manager not a babysitter’, claims Tottenham boss Sherwood

Tim Sherwood has stood by the disparaging remarks he made about his Tottenham team and says the squad are playing for their futures, while adding he is a "manager not a babysitter".

The Spurs boss tore into his players after the 4-0 defeat to Chelsea claiming they lacked character and were "miles away" from qualifying for the Champions League.

Sherwood was clearly upset in that interview but stood by what he said prior to Thursday's Europa League last-16 tie against Benfica and said the players understood his position.

"They know how I am and how I felt about what happened. We are moving on, you can't dwell on it. They are all men, they all appreciate that I am singing it from the heart, not from the script - I'm not an actor, I work on impulse," said the coach.

"I'm never going to take a step back. I'm just going to shoot from the hip. That's what I'm like. I'm a manager, not a babysitter.

"A lot of players here are playing for their future and I think they realise that now. I'm going to have a good look at the whole squad and see who I need to keep and who I need to bring in.

"They have that chance between now and the end of the season to prove they want to play for a giant club like Tottenham.

"I want players here who want to play for the club and they have between now and the end of the season to show that they are playing for their club and not for themselves. I don't think at any football club a player should be doing them a favour by playing for them."

Sherwood succeeded Andre Villas-Boas on an 18-month contract in December but it is widely assumed Tottenham will turn to a more established manager in the summer, with Dutch pair Louis van Gaal and Frank de Boer both being frequently linked with the role.

The Holland boss has already admitted an interest in the job while Sherwood claimed the "silence is defeaning" from chairman Daniel Levy and the Spurs board regarding his own position.

Asked if he had spoken to Levy, the former Tottenham midfielder replied: "There was no sit down meeting, nothing more than what I normally do. I've seen him a few times.

"I'm planning for next season. There's no point me planning if someone else is coming in. I've not asked for any assurances. I've an 18-month contract and I expect to be here a lot longer than that.

"It (the meeting) was all about pre-season, who do I want to keep. A lot of these players here are playing for their future and I think they realise that now.

"I'm going to have a good look at the squad and see who I am going to keep and who I am going to bring in.

"They have a chance between now and the end of the season to prove they want to play for a great giant of a club like Tottenham."