Exclusive – Bond: ‘No excuses for Euro failure’

Tottenham assistant manager Kevin Bond has told talkSPORT Spurs can't use Young Boys' plastic pitch as any excuse for Euro failure.

The White Hart Lane side begin their bid for Champions League group stage qualification in Switzerland tonight, where they will have to contend not only with tricky opposition but also with an Astroturf surface.

But Bond insists the artificial pitch should not be a barrier to success.

He told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: "We trained on the pitch last night [Monday], and I’ve got to say it’s a nice surface. There are no complaints.

"Back in the old days at places like Loftus Road it was an absolute nightmare, but they’ve moved on a million miles since then. If you’re going to a have a plastic pitch, this is as good as it gets.

"We certainly won't be using it as an excuse."

Victory over two legs against the Swiss will take Spurs into the promised land of the Champions League group stages and, with that challenge in mind, Bond admits manager Harry Redknapp is working hard to try to add numbers to his squad before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.

He added: "Harry’s working away to see what he can do in the transfer market. No-one seems to have any money, but he’s definitely looking to improve if he can.

"If you stand still, you go backwards."