Martin Jol is hoping his position as Tottenham Hotspur
manager is not being undermined and insists he does not have to
finish in the top four to save his job.
Juande Ramos was linked with the White Hart Lane post over the
weekend after he was spotted in the same hotel as a Spurs official,
although the Premier League club have denied holding any
negotiations to find a successor to Jol.
The Sevilla coach also brushed off the speculation, but Spurs'
current boss is upset by the recent criticism levelled at
him.
Tottenham responded to losing their opening two games of the season
by thrashing Derby County 4-0 on Saturday to seemingly ease the
burden on Jol's shoulders.
But the Dutchman is aware of the rumours surrounding his position
and concedes he 'can't take any criticism'.
Whispers
"I thought there were whispers last year and there are whispers at
any club all the time," said Jol in The Sun.
"I don't know if I'm being undermined, I don't think so, but you
never know. I would not have made a big bet on my situation.
"The only thing for me is that it was a bit early, you say early
doors in England.
"As a foreigner you have to prove yourself because the top five
clubs have foreign managers, so that is not easy to take on the
chin, you know, so I have to do better.
"People talked us up before the start of the season and that's why
it took only four days to bring us down again.
"But I'm probably the same as six or seven other people out of 10.
I can't f****** take any criticism.
"The board never told me personally that we have to break into the
top four."