Everton FC defender Tony Hibbert is determined to reach the highs of the top four again

Jul 31 2010 by Greg O'Keeffe, Liverpool Echo

TALK about Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League ambitions this season, and many conveniently forget that the Londoners must first face a qualifier to determine whether they enter the promised land.

It is the same stage at which Everton’s achievement of finishing fourth in 2005 suddenly deflated, courtesy of a rotten draw and an even worse referee.

Tony Hibbert recalls all too vividly the feeling of misery when the Blues came unstuck that season, and acknowledges that Spurs have it all to do.

Harry Redknapp’s side, who were thrashed 4-1 by none other than Villareal on Thursday night, are hoping to live the dream which Hibbert & Co came so close to five years ago.

The defeat in Spain and the ensuing UEFA cup debacle which followed, when Everton were dumped of that competition by Dinamo Bucharest, still rankles with Hibbert.

A veteran of David Moyes’ reign, the 29-year-old has experienced the highs and lows and, as he sets his sights on a new season and the challenge of usurping Spurs, Hibbert is in bullish mood.

While the Blues have had a relatively quiet summer in the transfer market, Hibbert knows that they are close to being ready for the big kick off.

Unbeaten so far in pre season, ahead of today’s friendly with Norwich at Carrow Road, the Toffees are approaching full throttle.

“Spurs have still got to qualify for that first,” says the right-back.

“It’s the Champions League and it’s not easy. If they’re not ready for it they’ll get shown up. For us it was a case of the unknown (in 2005).

“We were happy to be there but then we got Villareal – an unbelievable side and it was tough.

“I think we played well out there. We were good in that away leg but got that disallowed goal.

“It was one of the lowest points of my career. Sometimes you still look back and say ‘what if?’ but in football you are playing so many games, big important ones, that you can focus on them and forget.

“We’ve played a lot of big teams in Europe since then. It was hard at the time but we’ve kicked on.”