Redknapp will adopt cautious approach

Harry Redknapp is ready to adopt a safety-first approach to his and Tottenham's maiden Champions League campaign. 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.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."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."We go to Germany and they play with a diamond, and so they will have four players in the middle of the park."We have two in there and will run around chasing shadows as they pop it around. So we will have to look at that."He added: "At home, I am 90% certain I will play with two strikers. But away from home, it will be different."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."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.A five-man midfield could see Van der Vaart paired with Luka Modric, something the Dutchman believes will work well."He is a great player," Van der Vaart said."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."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.And despite having only just joined Spurs, Van der Vaart is ready to assume a leadership role in Europe.He said: "I have a lot of experience in the Champions League."I have played with Ajax in the Champions League, Hamburg and Madrid."I hope that I can help the team and I'm sure I can."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.Crouch would appear the natural choice but the Spurs boss insists Keane and Pavyluchenko are also up to the job.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."We need a squad this year," he said."It is amazing how quickly you can pick up injuries. We lost two players this week."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."Bremen appear to be proving Redknapp's point, with the German side suffering injuries to first-choice defenders Per Mertesacker and Naldo.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.He said: "I will take four points from the opening two games now, without doubt."The German side will be tough. They are a good team."

Source: Team_Talk