Players saluted by Villas-Boas

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas described his players as 'heroes' following their exit from this seasons Europa League to the hands of Swiss side Basel on penalties.

The 35-year-old claimed that his side had shown other Premier League sides how to approach and play in a competition that, in the past, has been heavily criticised.

"I am proud of the players because, for me, they are heroes for the way they have done this,” Villas-Boas told The Evening Standard.

"We’re extremely disappointed to go out to Basle, but it’s a great honour to have managed the players) throughout this competition.

"I think we set a great standard and a great example this season for English football for the way we approached this competition.

"It’s not up to me to brag about it, but I would like to compliment the players because changing the mentality towards the competition from one season to another is difficult. They played like heroes."

Tottenham's only remaining season challenge is to secure the much-talked-about top four finish and with only a handful of games remaining, full focus on the league may be just what they needed.

"It was never an excuse for the way we played in the Premier League but I think it changed the way some other English clubs approached the competition and played in the competition.

"Penalties are always very difficult. We had assigned the strongest penalty-takers and we practised. But you can never recreate the same stress and emotion in training.”

Huddlestone and Adebayor missed from the spot, with Basel scoring all four. Jan Vertonghen was also sent off for a professional foul.