Former Tottenham Hotspur captain Ledley King has opened up about the helplessness he felt as an illness outbreak derailed his team's top-four challenge in 2006.
Spurs sat in fourth place going into the final round of games under Martin Jol. However, after illness ripped through Jol's squad amid unverified reports of a contaminated lasagne, they lost at West Ham United and were pipped to fourth spot by neighbours and fierce rivals Arsenal.
King was unavailable for the West Ham game, having been ruled out through injury. However, as the England international explained, the reason for his absence didn't make things any less painful.
" It's not easy, especially when you feel you're a player who can help your team and influence your team," King exclusively told Mirror Football at bookmakers.com 's Evening With the Spurs Legends. The England defender had been an ever-present in the 2004-05 season, but missed a number of games in the subsequent years.
"I remember travelling to the West Ham game with two of my teammates, and finding out we had players that were ill. We went into the changing room and saw them and it was tough to take. You wish you could put on your kit and go out for them, they were really struggling and it's tough, you feel helpless at that time."
West Ham had rested players ahead of their FA Cup final appearance, but still took an early lead through Carl Fletcher. Jermain Defoe equalised, only for Yossi Benayoun to turn the tie back in the Hammers' favour, and Arsenal's 4-2 victory across town at Highbury meant Arsene Wenger's side pipped Spurs to fourth.
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Spurs find themselves in a similar situation this season. They go into the final game two points ahead of Arsenal, with a vastly superior goal difference, so a point or more against relegated Norwich City would send Antonio Conte's team into the Champions League.
They've faced another illness scare, too, with Harry Kane at the centre of things. The England striker, who has 26 goals in all competitions this season, was said to be feeling unwell on Sunday as Spurs prepared for their trip to Carrow Road.
"Yeah for sure," manager Antonio Conte said when asked if he expected Kane to be available. "If you remember the last game against Burnley we had four cases with stomach problems. This week I have to be honest we had a couple of cases about this, but we overcame this situation."
King, meanwhile, suggested even being in contention for a top four finish was an achievement given Spurs' start to the season. They hold an advantage over Arsenal thanks to the Gunners' Monday night loss at Newcastle, but it's not over just yet.
"If you spoke to the Spurs fans three months, four months ago and asked them 'would you take it going down to the last day of the season', they would have bitten your hand off for that," he said. "So it just shows how far they've come, how well the team's done and how well the manager's done to put them in this position."
