Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has insisted that his side look a more cohesive unit this season, with a strong squad capable of stepping up to cope without Gareth Bale.
The Welshman is on the verge of joining Real Madrid as his protracted world-record move to La Liga continues to rumble on, leaving Spurs to ponder life without last season's top scorer.
Villas-Boas believes that Spurs are well equipped to have a strong campaign even without the winger, thanks to a team ethic based around sharing collective responsibility for performances and results.
He told The Mirror: "Whenever a team is missing an important player, it is a chance for other players to step up their game. In the end, there will always be an opportunity for other people to shine through. Other players are taking that responsibility on board.
"A player like Andros Townsend is an example, but others can follow the same footsteps. We have done so in the game against Crystal Palace and Dinamo Tbilisi.
"Our game is much more collective and we are able to score inside the six-yard box, which is not very common for us. Last season we were the team that scored most from outside the box, so one thing will allow the other to shine."
Spurs have been busy in the transfer market so far this summer, adding Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado and Etienne Capoue to the ranks at the White Hart Lane.
Liam Power
