Redknapp laments disruption

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admits he has found it difficult to establish continuity in his side so far this term.

Spurs' early season has been plagued by injury, with just one fully fit recognised centre-half, Sebastien Bassong, available for their UEFA Champions League clash with FC Twente at White Hart Lane on Wednesday.

Redknapp may risk captain Ledley King for the clash, but if not, usual right-back Vedran Corluka will continue in central defence.

And the manager has admitted his frustration as injury worries continue to disrupt his attempts to balance Premier League and European football.

Problem

"The biggest problem you have is probably getting the players up for the Premier League games after the Champions League,"said Redknapp, whose side have won just two of their six league matches this term.

"You have to juggle around your team, I've found and when you keep changing your team, it makes it difficult to get continuity.

"We've had to do that an awful lot - change the team - probably through injury more than anything, especially in the back."

The Spurs boss revealed he has spoken to Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola about the problem, which he also encountered during the Blues' early European forays while at Stamford Bridge.

Redknapp added:"Champions League is suddenly something fantastic, new, and then getting up again for the maybe more bread and butter games, they found difficult at Chelsea in the early days.

"But I think they've obviously come to terms with that now.

"So it's something we've got to make sure we do, get ourselves up for another tough game on Saturday."

Must-win

Spurs take on Aston Villa at home on Saturday, but before that is their Twente encounter, which Redknapp feels is a must-win.

"It's a tight group,"he said."Every points are going to be very vital. I think we need to win our home games; obviously, if you do that, you'll qualify.

"So tomorrow's a massive game for us; it's a game we need to win."

Source