Redknapp vows to attack in Italy

19 October 2010 19:49
Harry Redknapp has got no intention on putting the reins on his Tottenham side in Wednesday's Champions League clash with Inter Milan in Italy.[LNB] Redknapp has vowed to stick to his attacking principles in the Group A showpiece at the San Siro despite being without suspended talisman Rafael van der Vaart.[LNB]Asked if Tottenham would "start like an express train", as they did in last month's draw at Werder Bremen, when they raced to a 2-0 lead, Redknapp said: "We always have a go; we play an attacking game.[LNB]"We'll look to have a go tomorrow and try to cause them problems.[LNB]"We won't just look to sit back and soak up pressure for 90 minutes; that's not the way we play.[LNB]"We'll be positive and see what we can do."[LNB]Taking the game to Inter will be all the more difficult in the absence of Van der Vaart, who has been a revelation since his deadline-day move from Real Madrid.[LNB]"Obviously, he changes the way we play," Redknapp said.[LNB]"We played one system when Rafa was playing and it suited him fine.[LNB]"He's not here but the other players can play the same type of role.[LNB]"Luka Modric is a world-class player, so he could easily slot into that same role that Rafa plays."[LNB]Wednesday's game is the first of a double-header Redknapp believes will be crucial to the outcome of Group A, with both sides sitting on four points.[LNB]"These are going to be very important games in the group," he said.[LNB]"We've got off to a good start - a good point in Germany in a game that we should've won, being 2-0 up and a good home performance against Twente.[LNB]"But these are two very tough tests now against Inter Milan.[LNB]"We feel as though we could give anybody a game - so we're ready."[LNB]Spurs' best chance of winning appears to be stopping Samuel Eto'o from scoring, with the Cameroon striker carrying Inter almost single-handedly with his goals of late.[LNB]Redknapp said: "We've got to be aware of Eto'o.[LNB]"I followed Eto'o when he was at Real Mallorca; I was the manager of West Ham.[LNB]"I watched him, I think, about nine times. Every Sunday, I went to watch him play and I was interested in taking him to London eight, nine years ago maybe.[LNB]"I know all about Eto'o; he's a fantastic player.[LNB]"It was a great deal for Inter; what an amazing deal to swap him (with Zlatan Ibrahimovic).[LNB]"I think Inter certainly got an amazing deal there."[LNB]Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes insisted he was up to the challenge of Eto'o.[LNB]"He is a quality player but I have played a lot of times against big strikers and I have stopped a couple of them," he said.[LNB]"It is difficult to stop him but we should not concentrate just on him.[LNB]"Inter Milan is not just him - I think we need to think about the whole team."[LNB]And, like his manager, Gomes was confident Tottenham could handle the loss of Van der Vaart following the Holland midfielder's recent goalscoring exploits.[LNB]"Van der Vaart did a great job for us but we need to keep going without him," Gomes said.[LNB]"Sometimes we never have the big players in the games like this but we have a great squad and quality players to do a great job tomorrow without Van der Vaart."

Source: Team_Talk