Ian Holloway says target of Champions League glory is 'not crazy'

Holloway says Blackpool are playing top rate football (GETTY IMAGES)

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has a long-term vision - winning the Champions League with Charlie Adam pulling the strings.

Adam is involved in a bonus dispute with the club which the Premier League is in the process of making a ruling.

The influential Scotland midfielder looks set to retain his place in the side to face Everton tomorrow even though he may need another pain-killing injection in his troublesome ankle.

Holloway hopes Adam puts down roots at Bloomfield Road as he has high hopes for the newly-promoted team.

He said: "I realise I might lose my best players because they will go and be paid a damn sight more elsewhere.

"I would love Charlie Adam to stay for a long time and get us in the top four, maybe Champions League places, maybe winning the Champions League.

"You might think I am crazy but I am not. I have watched games over the last few days and I have watched my team play.

"You know what? I am very proud. I am very proud of how we are playing football. We are playing it the right way with our passing.

"We need to be a bit more clever in and around goal, and show a bit more belief. You see Tottenham's passing, Real Madrid's passing, we can do that.

"I want to create an atmosphere where the players know I believe in them and that is what I have been doing. This is a fantastic journey and I do not want it to stop."

Short term Holloway wants his team to preserve their top-flight status and they have started better than most pundits expected.

A victory against West Brom on Monday saw his side leap into ninth place in the table.

However Holloway knows his team will have their work cut out against an Everton team, who have recovered from a bad start.

He said: "It is quite earth-shattering where we are at the moment. I believe my team are very good, I believe they are improving all the time. It is absolutely brilliant.

"That was an important win the other day. It keeps us nearer the top than down near the bottom. We need to get another positive result or we could be back down there.

"I cannot wait to face Everton. They have a great work ethic and a great attitude. It comes from (manager) David Moyes.

"The top four or five clubs had better watch out because they will be up there again."

Northern Ireland defender Craig Cathcart is doubtful after he suffered a recurrence of a back injury in the win over West Brom.

Holloway has already addressed the problem by withdrawing Dekel Keinan and Rob Edwards from a reserve game in midweek.