Redknapp promises to keep Modric after United defeat
TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp insists unsettled midfielder Luka Modric will definitely not be sold after Spurs lost their opening Premier League fixture 3-0 to a youthful Manchester United.
Modric was left out of the side amid interest from Chelsea as second-half goals from Danny Welbeck, Anderson and Wayne Rooney downed the north Londoners and swept United up to second in the table.
And Redknapp said: “We need him back playing. He’ll be here and get back and work.
“We need one or two more players. We need some characters. We’ve got good footballers but we just lack a spine to the team. I know who we need and if the chairman can help me bring them in we’ll be fine.”
Redknapp hopes to sign Emmanuel Adebayor and Lassana Diarra before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson praised an “absolutely fantastic” second half from his side, who had an average age of just 23. He added: “It was a fast game in the first half, it was end-to-end. Tottenham had a lot of possession, but in the second half we just took off.”
Ferguson reserved special praise for striker Welbeck, who scored a fine header and set up Anderson for the second with a cute back-heel.
“The first half he didn’t play as a centre-forward, we needed more presence up front and in the second half he was better that way,” he said.
“He’s always had great ability, Danny. He’s still only 20 – he’s got a great future.”