BAE interview in the Mirror

[BoringOldFan]

Found this today, thought some here might like to read it:

He is the man who took one for the team - ultimately rescuing Spurs’ Champions League hopes that looked dead and buried in Switzerland on Tuesday.

Benoit Assou Ekotto was subbed after just half an hour of Tuesday night’s qualifier against Young Boys.

At that stage the Swiss side were running riot, having scored three and threatening to fill their boots even further.

The tactical switch from Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, however, with two away goals swinging the odds back into the north Londoners’ favour.

Assou-Ekotto, harshly booked after just two minutes of the match, said: “Of course I wasn’t happy to come off. Nobody would be.

“But I realised it was tactical. I saw what the manager was trying to do and I understood.

“I had a yellow card and if I’d made another foul and it was ten against eleven it would have been even worse for us.

“To dwell on it would be pointless. We still have a second game to come.

“The biggest problem for us was the pitch. Football has to be played on grass and not synthetic surfaces. It gives them an advantage.

“I have been a professional for seven years and I have never played on a pitch like that. The second leg game will be very different on grass.”

Tuesday night’s scare has seen Redknapp step up his attempts to land experienced defender William Gallas from Arsenal to beef up Tottenham’s backline.

While the recruitment of the 33-year-old from the old enemy may rankle with some fans, Assou-Ekotto is not bothered in the slightest.

The former Lens defender, who features in the new Sky Sports show Footballer Friends added: “Look, Darth Vader could come to Spurs. I don’t care.

“If he does his job well I am happy for Spurs.

“Gallas can help us. Even if he is from Arsenal. They haven’t taken the chance to keep him so he is a free agent. He can go wherever he wants.

“If he was under contract at Arsenal and then chose to go to Spurs then I would understand the supporters at our club not being very happy. But Arsenal don’t want him. So why not take him?”

The arrival of battle-hardened Gallas is, in Redknapp’s view, the perfect riposte to those who believe that - on Tuesday’s evidence - Spurs are not yet ready to punch their weight in the Champions League.

Assou, 26, said: “If we played exactly the same way at home then yes, I’d understand people saying that we are not ready for the Champions League.

“But it will only be after next week’s game that we will know whether we are ready to play in the Champions League.

“Its small details that make the difference in ties like this and we have learned not to make even the smallest mistakes.

“So we will see after Wednesday whether we are ready whether we are ready for the Champions League. It will be a new experience for us but we are ready for it.

“I do allow myself to think about the Group Stages. I would love for Tottenham to be a group with a big team.

“I have great memories of games I have enjoyed watching in the competition. Matches such as Manchester United against Bayern in the Final in 1999 and Liverpoool and AC Milan in the Final five years ago.

“But first I have to think the second leg against Young Boys next week. If I don’t, then I will be watching the Champions League on my TV again!”

Spurs travel to Stoke this weekend - having won their last season - searching for their first win of the new campaign.

But Assou-Ekotto believes that regardless of the result, there will be no repeat of the early-season tailspin that saw former boss Juande Ramos replaced by Redknapp two seasons ago.

He said: “With Juande Ramos the team did not have a feeling for him so after one game, two games, three games we almost subconsciously said: ‘We do not have a feeling for you, we will not give the best for you.’

“But with Harry its different. All of the team have a good feeling for him. When you have a problem you can go and speak to him.

“So I don’t see us going eight games without a win as we did under Ramos. I think we have a good chance of going to Stoke and winning again. And next week.”

“Stoke are a strong team but they are human. Sure we have to be careful because we know they do well against the big clubs. But we will look at the video and study them carefully.”

Never knew Benny was a Star Wars fan. Does this mean even the players think the Goons' home is the Death Star?

Interesting comments about Ramos too. Doesn't seem like he was popular at all.

 

[JerryGarcia]

I posted this in the Gallas thread but what the hell...

 

[DJS]

I really am starting to love Disco Benny - he seems a good guy and the Darth Vader comment is gold too! :lol:

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

He also adds more the the misunderstanding that he hates football with saying that he likes to watch football. I've always understood it that he likes football without absolutely loving it (like most footballers).

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Interesting comments about a team of players "subconsciously" getting a manager sacked too re: Ramos, not that it's particularly surprising.

Gotta love BAE! The man is a legend.

 

[Gilzeanking]

Nice to see BoF around again and excellent interview devoid of the cliches that pepper most .

Ramos lost the dressing room its clear . Once you do that there is no way back . He blew the most important bit !

And yes the YB's didn't actually cheat us...but lets say they sprang
a crafty surprise .First with a plastic pitch , then the pitch was watered for the match and not for our training ensuring our unfamiliarity was maximised . I'm given to believe theres a big difference between watered and dry plastic pitches .

I wouldn't be surprised if , knowing we would be unfamiliar with the pitch especially early on , their plan was to go hell for leather at the start to take full advantage of this .

I'm hoping we tear the fuckers to bits Wednesday personally .

 

[StartingPrice]

He also adds more the the misunderstanding that he hates football with saying that he likes to watch football. I've always understood it that he likes football without absolutely loving it (like most footballers).

What he said in that previous interview was very simple, really:
When you are a kid, you play football with your mates, just for fun.
As a professional footballer, a player has to look after his career, so when he is choosing a team to move to, his does it on this basis, rather than as a fan.
When he is playing professionaly, he has to be disciplined and PROFESSIONAL.
If he wants to play 'just for fun', and not worry too much about maintaining discipline, or positional sense, or any of that, he will go and have a kick about with his mates.

It was SO twisted by the media, and so many fans juts accepted the headline.

 

[Lanh]

Every time he speaks it seems that it is something worth listening to. :up:

 

[spurs_viola]

Another proof if it was ever needed, that it was the players who decided they would not bother trying, so that to get rid of a manager whose methods they did not like and who probably made a big mistake in demanding too much too soon from the players who were not as professional as he thought.

Because ultimately, it is totally unprofessional to, in effect, throw matches just to get their ways and get rid of a manager many of them did not like (not every player, btw). It just shows the way football players think about themselves first and foremost, not really caring that much about the supporters and the club. Players like this know they can always go to another club if it doesn't work out here and if they can see that the club supports the manager more than these pampered players.

Before people start howling in protest, just consider if BAE will want to stay with Spurs if he loses his place in the first team and some otehr club comes calling. I doubt that very much.

 

[Coyboy]

I think you are getting the chicken and the egg mixed up.

 

[DJS]

You really did like Ramos eh spurs_viola? ;-)

 

[Raxscallion]

Another proof if it was ever needed, that it was the players who decided they would not bother trying, so that to get rid of a manager whose methods they did not like and who probably made a big mistake in demanding too much too soon from the players who were not as professional as he thought.

Because ultimately, it is totally unprofessional to, in effect, throw matches just to get their ways and get rid of a manager many of them did not like (not every player, btw). It just shows the way football players think about themselves first and foremost, not really caring that much about the supporters and the club. Players like this know they can always go to another club if it doesn't work out here and the club supports the manager more than these pampered players.

Before people start howling in protest, just consider if BAE will want to stay with Spurs if he loses his place in the first team and some otehr club comes calling. I doubt that very much.

Did you miss the word 'subconsciously' or do you just not understand it?

 

[spurs_viola]

You really did like Ramos eh spurs_viola? ;-)

Yes I did, but I'm not closing my eyes to the mistakes he made, most importantly underestimating the differences between dealing with players in Spain and with players in Britain.

But to me it is also clear that the players and the board did not support him as much as they could/should have. It seems players expected him to adjust to their ways quickly, but were not prepared to adapt their ways at all themselves. Then the board messed him up big time with disastrous transfer window - and it could only end up in failure. Too easy to blame it all on Ramos, though.

 

[spurs_viola]

Did you miss the word 'subconsciously' or do you just not understand it?

Ah, the "subconscious" level of footballers' brains - most complicated creatures...They never talk to each other, do they - just trying to pick each other's subtle psychological clues out there, eh?

 

[SpurSince57]

Yes I did, but I'm not closing my eyes to the mistakes he made, most importantly underestimating the differences between dealing with players in Spain and with players in Britain.

But to me it is also clear that the players and the board did not support him as much as they could/should have. It seems players expected him to adjust to their ways quickly, but were not prepared to adapt their ways at all themselves. Then the board messed him up big time with disastrous transfer window - and it could only end up in failure. Too easy to blame it all on Ramos, though.

Complete nonsense.

 

[JerryGarcia]

Ah, the "subconscious" level of footballers' brains - most complicated creatures...They never talk to each other, do they - just trying to pick each other's subtle psychological clues out there, eh?

Are you honestly suggesting that our players got together and decided they'd play badly so that they could get Ramos the sack? :rofl:

If you don't get along with your boss and he's a bit of a dick, you're not going to perform to the best of your ability are you? How can you?

 

[brett.spurs]

Benoit the new cult hero, haven't had one since Zoko left but Benoit has stepped up his game.

 

[Mullers]

Did the players subconsciously lose games under Jol as well? How about wanting to win games for the fans? How about winning games because that is what you are paid to do as a professional footballer?

 

[Mullers]

If you don't get along with your boss and he's a bit of a dick, you're not going to perform to the best of your ability are you? How can you?

I'm sure I could find a way if I'm getting 40 grand a week.

 

[Raxscallion]

If you have no faith in your manager then you won't feel as motivated and passionate. It's not difficult to understand.