Gianfranco Zola: Modric Was The Key Man For Spurs

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West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola has identified Croatian International playmaker Luka Modric as the key player in the Tottenham Hotspur side that beat the Hammers 2-0 at Upton Park on Monday night.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp stated that he intended to build the Tottenham side around 23-year-old Modric, when he arrived at White Hart Lane from Portsmouth to take charge at the Premier League club. With Redknapp choosing to deploy the £16.5million summer signing in a role behind a lone striker, which worked to good effect as Spurs enjoyed a good run upon Redknapp’s arrival.

Tottenham have struggled slightly of late, with it no surprise that this blip coincided with Modric being out injured for Spurs recently. However, the former Dinamo Zagreb player returned to the starting line-up for Tottenham last night, with Zola believing that the Croatian schemer was a major factor in Spurs collecting all three points in the Premiership clash.

Second half goals from Tottenham captain Ledley King and Jamie O’Hara, who came on as a second half substitute secured the win, but Zola believes that had West Ham gone ahead the outcome might have been different.

Zola said: “They started to play in the second half.

“Modric found his position behind the striker and that caused us problems.

“It was important for us to score first. We knew there were going to be chances in the game and if we'd have got in front it would have been a big help.

“Unfortunately for us it was a disappointing game.

“It's not an easy situation for us to be in, we all know that and we have to work hard to change it. We won't panic and we'll keep going.”

Injury Blow For Spurs Boss Redknapp As Modric Ruled Out For Two Weeks

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Tottenham Hotspur’s Croatian International Luka Modric has suffered a groin injury and will be missing from Harry Redknapp’s Spurs side for at least two-weeks.

23-year-old Modric, who was a £16.5million summer signing from Dinamo Zagreb was injured in the Premier League defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday, where the Croatian playmaker was taken off at half-time.

Modric will now miss the Premiership matches at White Hart Lane against Blackburn Rovers and Everton as well as an away tie in the UEFA Cup against NEC Nijmegen. This will come as a blow to former Portsmouth boss Redknapp, who has pledged to build the team around Modric and will now have to do without the midfielder for this crucial series of games in the North London clubs season.

A statement on the club's official website read: “An MRI scan has revealed that Luka Modric has suffered a partially torn groin muscle. He was forced off with the injury at half-time in Saturday's match with Fulham and is expected to be sidelined for up to two weeks.”

Spurs Coach Ferdinand: "With Harry In Charge This Place Is Going To Be Fun"

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Former England International and Tottenham Hotspur player Les Ferdinand, who has joined Spurs as part of new manager Harry Redknapp’s coaching staff has questioned the management style of previous boss Juande Ramos, with the former striker claiming that the Spaniard’s poor communication skills failed to install confidence in the players at White Hart Lane.

While, Ferdinand has questioned the methods of Ramos he is backing new chief Redknapp make Tottenham ‘entertainers’ again and has revealed how the mood has changed at the North London club since the former Portsmouth manager took over.

Tottenham are unbeaten under Redknapp, winning 5 out of 6 games in all competitions and scoring 18 goals in the process, with Ferdinand attributing this change of fortune for Spurs solely to Redknapp.

“At times, Spurs have been the great entertainers of The Premier League over the last few seasons and, if the last three weeks are any guide, there won’t be many dull moments this year,” he told The Daily Mirror.

“With Harry in charge, this place is going to be fun.

“I walked into the training ground today and the mood was so upbeat. Everyone had a spring in their step.

“Less than a month ago, there was doom and gloom around the place. I saw David Bentley filling in at right back and Luka Modric stuck out on the left side of midfield.

“I won’t make any disparaging remarks about the previous manager and Juande Ramos is no mug if he can win the UEFA Cup.

“But if you can’t communicate with your players and you are struggling to get your message across, that is going to transmit itself to the pitch.

“And if you are playing for a manager who chops and changes every week, looking like a coach who is trying to find his best formation and his best team, you’re going to start doubting him.

“It has taken only one man to give the whole club a lift and, all of a sudden, there’s a feel-good vibe that only winning brings to a club.”

41-year-old Ferdinand played for Spurs between 1997-2003 and scored 33 league goals in 188 league matches for Tottenham during his six-years at White Hart Lane.

Modric: I Want To Be Loved At Spurs Like Hoddle & Gazza

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Tottenham Hotspur summer signing Luka Modric has revealed that he intends to be loved by the fans at White Hart Lane in the same way that previous Spurs legends like Glenn Hoddle and Paul Gascoigne were by putting in the performances to show that he is “worthy” of all the expectation following his £16.5million summer transfer from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer.

New Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has already revealed that he intends to build a team around the Croatian playmaker, with the former Portsmouth manager deciding to deploy Modric just behind either Darren Bent or Roman Pavlyuchenko in his first three matches in charge at the North London club.

Modric, who looked a shadow of the player on show at EURO 2008 when he arrived at Tottenham has flourished in his new found freedom under Redknapp, with Spurs unbeaten under Redknapp after wins over Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers and the 4-4 North London derby thriller with Arsenal at the Emirates.

The 23-year-old Croatian International has admitted to feeling a little pressure from recent compliments, but hopes that his performances for Spurs can one day earn him the status at White Hart Lane of previous Tottenham greats.

“I will try to play my best game so that in a couple of months or a year, the fans can love me like the other players [such as Hoddle & Gascoigne],” said Modric.

“I feel some pressure from all these compliments. But I feel self-confident and have to show on the pitch I’m worthy of all the expectations.”

Redknapp: I Have To Build Tottenham Around Modric

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New Tottenham Hotspur manger Harry Redknapp has revealed that he is to build the Spurs team around Croatian International Luka Modric (below) ahead of the crunch UEFA Cup clash against the former playmakers club Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday.

The former Portsmouth boss also hailed the quality of Croatian players, having worked closely with Niko Kranjcar at Fratton Park and bringing former International and now Croatian coach Slaven Bilic along with Igor Stimac to the Premier League, while in charge of West Ham United.

Redknapp is delighted to have Croatian’s Modric and defender Vedran Corluka, also a former Zagreb player in his squad at White Hart Lane. However, Corluka will miss the clash against his former club, as he is cup-tied. Modric is set for a key role against the side he left in the summer, but with Roman Pavlyuchenko also cup-tied Redknapp has revealed that there will be changes for the European game.

“I saw Nico [Kranjcar of Portsmouth] last week," he told Sportskenovosti.

“He's back playing which is good as he's now over his injury.

“He's a great boy, a really good person and a fantastic footballer. Modric is also a fantastic footballer and I have to build a team around him to play with him.

“We have to get him the ball as he's an amazing player. He's a special footballer and has got amazing ability like a lot of Croatian players.

“They have produced so many great players over the years. I love Croatians, every boy from Croatia I have had has just been special. I can honestly say that.

“Slaven [Bilic] was fantastic, Igor [Stimac] too at West Ham was fantastic player. Robert Prosinecki was a genius.

“We have to win at home and make sure we win. If we win this game, one more win will get us through then we can think about the league again.

“It's important we keep picking up good results and keep winning for the confidence.

“We don't want to get beaten on Thursday. I'll change the team and give players a chance who haven't played.”