Sorry affair: Jol can't resist a dig at Wenger

Fight for fourth: Spurs manager seeks European reward for the progress made by his vibrant young squad

Martin Jol re-visits that incident with Arsène Wenger last weekend with a slow grind of his teeth and an even slower to emerge grin. "It was just left," he says, "because he left."

But has there not been an apology from the apparently fleet-footed Arsenal manager after he accused his Tottenham Hotspur counterpart of being a liar? "I think that's all in the past," Jol says, rather unconvincingly, "it didn't feel great because I wasn't lying. I think I could make jokes about it but..."

It's clear that Jol, as is his endearing wont, wants to make light of it - but he has also, equally clearly, been told by the Spurs PR department that the party line is that it's all water under the bridge... and so on. Eventually Jol adds: "I wouldn't expect him to apologise because I always think that sometimes people are emotional because there's a lot at stake. Maybe, after the European Cup final, if they win it. Maybe. It's always easier then."

Finally his diplomacy crumbles with what is a little, humorous dig at Wenger - after all it's easier to be magnanimous in victory - and his graceless antics last Saturday. In the last north London derby at Highbury it was Wenger who launched an intemperate, ill-advised attack on Jol for his claim that he had not seen the incident that led to Spurs' goal.

Replays showed that the Dutchman was certainly not lying and, in any case, it could well be argued that there was no reason at all for his team to stop play as the two Arsenal players had run into each other and neither was injured. "I think it's different every day," he says of the reaction to the incident, "I saw him [Wenger] on television and he was pretty happy. So you have to move on."

That was in reference to the exuberant touchline images from the second leg of Arsenal's Champions' League semi-final against Villarreal which sent them into next month's final against Barcelona. No one at Spurs needs reminding that, following the rule change by Uefa, after the débâcle last year involving Everton and Liverpool, they will lose out if Arsenal lift the trophy at the Stade de France even if they finish ahead of their fiercest rivals in the League. Instead of the Champions' League they will be consigned to the Uefa Cup. It seems cruelly fated for a club who have yearned so long for such a profile.

Spurs are considering a legal challenge (which has little hope of succeeding). But first, for Jol, it's a case of "making everything certain". Following the draw with Arsenal he knows that his team have to win their last two games - at home, today, against Bolton Wanderers, who have beaten Spurs in their last six League meetings, and away next Sunday to bitter local rivals West Ham United - to hold on to the position they have occupied for the last five months. "We have to play the games and then we make an assessment," Jol says. "You can't take a risk. You have to play, you have to be strong enough and hopefully we will."

Spurs, perhaps alone in English football, will be hoping that Barça prevail in three weeks' time. Will Jol, therefore, be offering any advice to their coach, and his compatriot, Frank Rijkaard? "I don't think I have to motivate his players for a European Cup final as they are a terrific team anyway. As are Arsenal," says Jol, who is unsure as to whether he can endure a trip to the match.

He prefers to dwell on the progress made by his vibrant young Spurs squad. "We have 10 points more than last season and that's better than I expected. To be in Europe is a great feeling," Jol says of a team who have qualified for the Uefa Cup for the first time through their League position since 1983.

Nevertheless, he is not a great fan of the tournament itself. "I think it's more important during a League season to play for Europe than actually qualifying," Jol argues. "Because you can then play against Real Madrid and it could be one round." He adds, however, that following Middlesbrough's extraordinary adventure the effect of the cup "cannot be over-estimated".

Jol confirms that captain Ledley King will not play again this season because of his foot injury - but he maintained he would be fit for the World Cup. Jermaine Jenas, also, should be there but only because he was withdrawn quickly enough to avoid a stress fracture while, despite media speculation, Jol feels that Germany may have come too quickly for winger Aaron Lennon, who has just turned 19. "It's a bit early," he maintains.

Jol also dismisses the notion that since his team are ahead of schedule the prospect of playing in the Champions' League has also all come rather too early for them. "I don't think so," he says. "Ever. Even if you go out like Everton it's a great experience. If you go out with pride against an unbelievably good club in the first round then that's different as well.

"If we could get in the group stages it could be an unbelievable experience because you play a lot of games, earn a lot of money. But the main thing is that the club will get a lot of exposure as well and we'll be right where we want to be."