Andre Villas-Boas denies Emmanuel Adebayor rift and pins his faith on Jermain Defoe

 
Giuseppe Muro10 January 2013

Andre Villas-Boas today insisted there is no issue with Emmanuel Adebayor following the striker’s decision to play in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Adebayor (above) this week reversed his choice not to play for Togo and will travel to South Africa after Saturday’s Premier League game against Queens Park Rangers.

The 28-year-old hinted Villas-Boas was unhappy with his participation in the tournament but the manager says there is no rift.

He said: “What I told him is that we have been waiting patiently for the decision and if he has to go, he goes. That is the end of the story.”

Jermain Defoe will be Tottenham’s only recognised striker during Adebayor’s potential five-game absence but Villas-Boas said Spurs are unlikely to sign an attacker in January.

“We can put ourselves in a difficult position if we don’t add another striker and one gets injured,” said the manager. “We have been in this position before when Ade got injured.

“We don’t lose Adebayor for a great amount of time. We are able to cope with it. I don’t think we will do anything.”

Tottenham have been linked with Brazil striker Leandro Damiao but Villas-Boas does not expect any deal for the Internacional striker.

He said: “He is a player that this club has always appreciated. It is extremely unlikely he will join Tottenham.”

Villas-Boas also confirmed that defender William Gallas will not be leaving the club this month despite interest from QPR.

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