Tottenham head coach Tim Sherwood is targeting a final-day win over Aston Villa to ensure the club will be playing Europa League football next season.#INSERT type:image caption: Tim Sherwood has been battling increased speculation over his future at White Hart Lane. END#
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Sherwood's side currently sit sixth in the Premier League table and go into their last game of the campaign knowing that a point against Villa is enough to keep Manchester United behind them and secure European qualification.
With constant speculation over his future, it remains unclear if Sherwood would be the man to lead Spurs into next season -- but the 45-year-old knows that qualifying for the Europa League is something that is of vast importance to his club.
"It is a huge game,'' he said. "We want to finish with maximum points if possible, we know they are going to be tough, they carry a threat on the counter attack and are better away form home than they have been at home.
"I will be guaranteeing to our fans that I will be selecting a team that want to play for Tottenham in this last game and want to be playing in the Europa League next season.
"I think that is hugely important for a club like Tottenham. Everyone aspires to be in the Champions League but we know how difficult it is to actually achieve that.
"We've got a big squad of players and when they're all fit, they need a games programme and I think the Europa League gives them opportunities to play games, keep themselves mentally prepared and physically ready.''
Sherwood refuted suggestions a victory would set the side up to come back in form at the start of preseason, but did admit the last result does linger over the club, good or bad.
"It doesn't give you momentum,'' he continued. "What it does is send your fans away with some optimism for next year. I think this game is very impulsive and everyone reacts on your last game.
"It would be nice to win, and all of those players will be great going into the summer and the manager might be all right.''
As other names continue to be linked with his job -- with Sandro telling ESPN that Sherwood will be removed this summer --the manager wants to get the season out of the way before discussing his future with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.
Sherwood claimed on Friday that he has felt like a supply teacher struggling to gain the respect of his pupils during his time in charge at White Hart Lane, but says he has already shown Levy his plans on how to take the club forward.
"There is not one [a meeting] pencilled in yet,'' he added. "We are focusing on this last game against Villa we want a positive result and then we will sit down and have a chat.
"I have to wait to see the chairman and see what the future holds. We have already discussed preseason and I gave a list of players to the chairman and to [technical director] Franco Baldini of who I recommend we keep, who I recommend leave and who I recommend come in.
"They haven't given me an indication how they are moving forward with that.''