AVB: I’ll win Spurs titles but I’ve no point to prove
NEW Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas believes the experience gained from his time at Chelsea will be crucial in the pursuit of silverware at White Hart Lane, even though he feels he need not prove a point over his sacking.
Chelsea last season dismissed Villas-Boas with the club out of the title race and on the brink of elimination from the Champions League. A significant obstacle may have already arisen with the departure of the midfielder Luka Modric appearing imminent, but the Portuguese manager remains confident he has sufficiently evolved beyond his previous flaws and will inspire success at Spurs.
“You always learn from experience,” he said. “From my understanding the Chelsea experience was maybe not so gratifying in terms of success but very gratifying professionally for me.
“I learned a couple of things that maybe I’ve done wrong and I’ve learned in a club you have to trust the right people at the right time.
“It is not a mission of restoring my reputation, it’s a mission to put Tottenham back on track with titles.
Since 2008 we haven’t won anything. It is right we take the club forward, mixing it with titles and with success. It is a massive opportunity for me and I am extremely pleased to be given that opportunity.
“Since I stopped there has been a couple of discussions with other clubs, a couple of them have even been made public, but I was always willing to wait for the right opportunity at the right time.
“After Chelsea it was important to be surrounded by the right commitment and the right people and I think I have found that.”
The right people for Villas-Boas now constitute assistant manager Steffen Freund, who was yesterday appointed, and director of football Tim Sherwood, who incidentally played together for Tottenham and whose midfield expertise Villas-Boas may wish to consult. Modric’s likely departure provides a considerable first challenge for the new manager to overcome, but compatriot Joao Moutinho has already been targeted and could be among those signed.
“The interest that we have from various different clubs shows the importance of [Modric],” Villas-Boas said. “It’s fair to say the club respects Luka’s ambitions and his willingness to move on and he respects the fact that he’s an important player for the club and can help us move forward.
“Ongoing discussions will continue with these clubs until we reach an agreement which is acceptable.
“[Moutinho] was one of the most important players at Euro 2012, he was fantastic. Counting on players of this quality will always be interesting for us. [But] it doesn’t mean he’s the only target.”
Villas-Boas: What Spurs can expect
IN
New look strikeforce
Following last season’s loan, Emmanuel Adebayor is set to sign a permant deal but another striker could arrive, with Brazil’s Leandro Damiao an option.
Steffen Freund as assistant
The former Tottenham and Germany midfielder has been appointed as assistant manager in an overhauled coaching team.
Crouching and squatting
The intense former Chelsea manager has been known to squat in, and out of, the dugout during tense moments.
OUT
Luka Modric
After resisting all offers for him last summer, Tottenham’s masterful midfielder finally looks set to leave. Possibly Spurs’ most important player.
Ledley King
The injury-prone defender finally looked to have played in one match too many last season. Presently out of contract but may stay on in a coaching role.
Cockney dialect
The new manager’s media duties are likely to be considerably more sober affairs than under quipmaster Harry Redknapp. That could also apply to injuries; Spurs may no longer be “down to the bare bones”.