Villas-Boas blasts 'unprofessional' Modric
Source: AFP |
July 25, 2012, Wednesday
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ANDRE Villas-Boas has launched a fresh attack on Luka Modric after branding the Tottenham midfielder as unprofessional following his summer revolt.
Modric, a target for Real Madrid, is desperate to force through a summer move and has angered Spurs by going on strike.
The Croatian has been hit with an 80,000 pounds (US$124,000) fine for refusing to train and missing the club's pre-season tour of America, where it will play a friendly against LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls.
And with Spurs refusing to move on their 40 million pounds (US$62 million) asking price, new Tottenham boss Villas-Boas has condemned Modric's stance.
"We understand this type of player revolt is nothing new," said the Portuguese coach. "But the club has to protect themselves. We have to hold onto our values and rights. Last year he behaved professionally. Unfortunately this is the first time Luka has taken these actions. The situation as it stands is he is under club discipline for not being present.
"We don't know what advice he is receiving. As far as I know he is back in London.
"There is a sense of respect for what he has done, but the chairman feels that the fact he is not present is not common professional behavior. This situation will be solved in two ways - that the clubs interested meet the demands of Tottenham regarding his value or the player continues to club duty. Hopefully this won't drag on too long as it doesn't help Luka or us."
Tottenham has been dealt a further blow after it emerged Scott Parker is set to miss the start of the new season. Parker is poised to undergo an Achilles injury that will him out for six weeks.
He will miss England's friendly with Italy next month and is a major doubt for opening two World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine in September.
"We think there might be a small tear on his Achilles," said Villas-Boas. "We are evaluating the situation at the moment - with regards to an operation, which would take four to six weeks to heal. It is a situation that also depends on our ability to have the player in surgery as quickly as possible. That's what we are trying to work on.
Modric, a target for Real Madrid, is desperate to force through a summer move and has angered Spurs by going on strike.
The Croatian has been hit with an 80,000 pounds (US$124,000) fine for refusing to train and missing the club's pre-season tour of America, where it will play a friendly against LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls.
And with Spurs refusing to move on their 40 million pounds (US$62 million) asking price, new Tottenham boss Villas-Boas has condemned Modric's stance.
"We understand this type of player revolt is nothing new," said the Portuguese coach. "But the club has to protect themselves. We have to hold onto our values and rights. Last year he behaved professionally. Unfortunately this is the first time Luka has taken these actions. The situation as it stands is he is under club discipline for not being present.
"We don't know what advice he is receiving. As far as I know he is back in London.
"There is a sense of respect for what he has done, but the chairman feels that the fact he is not present is not common professional behavior. This situation will be solved in two ways - that the clubs interested meet the demands of Tottenham regarding his value or the player continues to club duty. Hopefully this won't drag on too long as it doesn't help Luka or us."
Tottenham has been dealt a further blow after it emerged Scott Parker is set to miss the start of the new season. Parker is poised to undergo an Achilles injury that will him out for six weeks.
He will miss England's friendly with Italy next month and is a major doubt for opening two World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine in September.
"We think there might be a small tear on his Achilles," said Villas-Boas. "We are evaluating the situation at the moment - with regards to an operation, which would take four to six weeks to heal. It is a situation that also depends on our ability to have the player in surgery as quickly as possible. That's what we are trying to work on.
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