Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor has insisted that his recent comments about the club's supporters were not meant as a criticism.

Following Sunday's 2-1 defeat at home to Stoke City, Adebayor was quoted as saying that he would rather play away from White Hart Lane due to the negative nature of some Spurs fans.

However, the 30-year-old has now claimed that he was not directly criticising fans but instead encouraging them to get behind the team more.

He tweeted: "I would like to clarify some recent reports in the newspapers. I have NEVER criticised Tottenham fans. I just merely suggested that it would be more positive if they got behind the team more.

"I love the club as do all the players in the dressing room. We would all do anything to make this team win but like most people we respond better to praise than criticism. We will get this right. Please bear with us and we will improve."

Spurs are currently in 12th position in the Premier League table, four points adrift of the Champions League places.