Source: Team_Talk
Redknapp will adopt cautious approach
Harry Redknapp is ready to adopt a safety-first approach to his and Tottenham's maiden Champions League campaign.[LNB] Spurs suffered a humiliating half hour in the first leg of last month's play-off tie against Young Boys in Bern after Redknapp gambled on an attacking formation.[LNB]But the 63-year-old, who is managing in the competition for the first time, has vowed not to make the same mistake twice when they travel to Werder Bremen next week for their Group A opener.[LNB]"I am not going to go away from home and play 4-4-2 as you will get opened up," said Redknapp, who watched his side fall 3-0 behind to Young Boys at the Stade de Suisse before fighting back to win the tie 6-3.[LNB]"We go to Germany and they play with a diamond, and so they will have four players in the middle of the park.[LNB]"We have two in there and will run around chasing shadows as they pop it around. So we will have to look at that."[LNB]He added: "At home, I am 90% certain I will play with two strikers. But away from home, it will be different."[LNB]The signing of Rafael van der Vaart gives Redknapp licence to experiment with playing one up front, with the Holland midfielder preferring to play in the hole.[LNB]"He can play in behind one striker, two strikers, if you want to play that way, or if you want to play a diamond," said Redknapp.[LNB]A five-man midfield could see Van der Vaart paired with Luka Modric, something the Dutchman believes will work well.[LNB]"He is a great player," Van der Vaart said.[LNB]"I always like to play with good footballers. He plays a little bit the Dutch way, good technique, he is fast and I think it is going to fit well."[LNB]It is no accident that all of Redknapp's summer signings have either played in the Champions League or - in Sandro's case - its South American equivalent.[LNB]And despite having only just joined Spurs, Van der Vaart is ready to assume a leadership role in Europe.[LNB]He said: "I have a lot of experience in the Champions League.[LNB]"I have played with Ajax in the Champions League, Hamburg and Madrid.[LNB]"I hope that I can help the team and I'm sure I can."[LNB]With Jermain Defoe out injured for around three months, Redknapp must decide which of Peter Crouch, Robbie Keane and Roman Pavyluchenko will spearhead his side's European assault.[LNB]Crouch would appear the natural choice but the Spurs boss insists Keane and Pavyluchenko are also up to the job.[LNB]Indeed Redknapp is ready to rotate, citing the injuries sustained by Defoe and Michael Dawson as evidence of the importance of having strength in depth.[LNB]"We need a squad this year," he said.[LNB]"It is amazing how quickly you can pick up injuries. We lost two players this week.[LNB]"I have been in this situation before. At Portsmouth, we had four centre-backs and, within 10 days, lost all four for a month. It can happen."[LNB]Bremen appear to be proving Redknapp's point, with the German side suffering injuries to first-choice defenders Per Mertesacker and Naldo.[LNB]That will boost Spurs' hopes of making a flying start to Group A but Redknapp is taking nothing for granted ahead of Tuesday night's game.[LNB]He said: "I will take four points from the opening two games now, without doubt.[LNB]"The German side will be tough. They are a good team."
