LEVY WON'T PUT SPURS FUTURE AT RISK

Article taken from THE GUARDIAN

Daniel Levy believes Tottenham Hotspur deserve to be in the group stages of the Champions League but on the eve of their return to Europe's premier club competition the White Hart Lane chairman said he will not jeopardise their future to pursue qualification year after year.

Having defeated Young Boys in a play-off-tie last month, Tottenham play their first game in the Champions League proper tonight, when they take on Werder Bremen in their opening Group A match. Spurs supporters misty-eyed at memories of the great Bill Nicholson side who reached the semi-finals in 1962 before losing to Benfica have long dreamed about seeing their team back on this stage and Levy shares their excitement.

The chairman has, however, moved to quell expectations and called for fans to be "realistic" about the prospects of the club remaining at football's top table in the long term, claiming only Manchester United and Chelsea are assured of a place in the league's top four every season.

Levy also said the Champions League is "not a gold mine" and pointed out that the £15m Spurs will make from competing in the group stages is merely the equivalent of a transfer fee for one player."We deserve to be in the Champions League. Our history dictates that but it has taken us a long time to get back," he said. "I think it's a huge achievement for Harry [Redknapp], all his coaching staff and players and the fans as well.

It's something special."I think we all want to stay there but we all have to be realistic. There are only four places in England and there are seven or eight clubs competing. There are probably two clubs you could say are guaranteed to be in that top four. You then have two places for six clubs. The odds are stacked against you.

But what we won't do is jeopardise the club to challenge to be one of those two. You can't run the club on the basis of being in the Champions League. "Often people say you just need an extra player. It doesn't work. It's about the team. I like to think it's important to run the club in the right way. It's not just about today; it's about the future generation of fans.

You have to protect the club."Spurs must already feel like they have travelled to hell and back in this competition after their remarkable first leg against Young Boys, when they fell 3-0 behind inside 28 minutes, leaving Levy in a state of shock as he looked on from the stands.

The real journey, however, starts in the Weser- stadion this evening, when Redknapp and his players seek to prove they belong at this level.Redknapp claimed last night he has "nothing to prove" after taking Spurs from the bottom of the Premier League to the Champions League in less than two years but he also admitted "you never stop learning".

The experience in Switzerland was uppermost in the manager's mind when he made that comment and he said he would be "committing suicide" if he set Spurs up in a 4-4-2 formation against Werder Bremen. "I went at Young Boys because the reports came back that they were there to be beaten, that they weren't a good side so I thought, 'We can have a go at these, we'll murder these tonight'.

And after half an hour ..."This is different, they are a good side with quality players. You have got problems with the way they play. They will certainly play with at least four narrow midfield players. It makes it difficult, you are going to get run around all over the shop if you open up and play 4-4-2. With your two wingers, the two in the middle are not going to get near them. If you play 4-4-2 you are committing suicide."

With Jermain Defoe, Michael Dawson and Heurelho Gomes injured and Luka Modric also ruled out after failing to make a full recovery from the knock he received at West Bromwich Albion, Redknapp is set to play with Peter Crouch as a lone striker, with Rafael van der Vaart likely to be encouraged to support him from what will effectively be a five-man midfield.

Bremen are not without their own injury problems. Claudio Pizarro, the former Chelsea striker, will be missing and the club's first-choice central defenders, the Germany international Per Mertesacker and the Brazilian Naldo, are also sidelined, meaning that Mikaël Silvestre, who was released from Arsenal in the summer, is set to start after making his debut at the weekend.

Maghrufa l-Gruppi tac-Champions League

Dan l-artiklu miktub minn Mark Mizzi deher fuq L-Orizzont tal-Hamis 2 ta' Settembru 2010

"Grazzi tal-polza...issa tista' tirranga sabiex Real jibqghu telghin sal-finali u jilghabu ma' Chelsea?". Dan kien il-messagg li baghat il-kowc ta' Real Madrid Jose Mourinho lill-ex internazzjonali Ingliz Gary Lineker hekk kif telghu il-poloz tal-gruppi tac-Champions League. Lineker kien protagonista ewlieni fil-procedura li ddecidiet min se jilghab kontra min f'din il-fazi tal-kompetizzjoni - procedura li se taghti bidu ghac-Champions League vera u propja li twassalna sa Wembley Stadium f'Mejju li gej.

Mourinho rebah ic-Champions League ma' Inter l-istagun li ghadda u rnexxielu jaghmel il-holma ta' dan il-klabb ta' Milan realta'. Issa ghandu missjoni gdida u xejn ma jtih aktar sodisfazzjojn milli jaghmel l-istess fil-kapitali Spanjola ma' Real Madrid li huma ghatxana biex jergghu jitilghu fil-quccata tal-futbol Ewropew.

Bl-istil tipiku tieghu, Mourinho diga' qed ibassar il-finalisti u jemmen li t-tim prezenti tieghu jista' jikkontesta l-finali kontra l-ex tim tieghu Chelsea. Ghalkemm ghadu kmieni wisq biex wiehed jibda jaghmel il-previzjonijiet, kull fejn kien s'issa Mourinho gab is-sucess u ma nahsibx li jkun hawn hafna li lesti jahilfu li l-Portugiz ma jistax jasal ghat-tragward li jkun wahhal f'mohhu.

Dan l-istagun Mourinho akkwista tnejn mill-aktar plejers li spikkaw fit-Tazza tad-Dinja jigifieri l-Germanizi Sami Khedira u Mesut Ozil. Meta tghodd lil dawn ma' plejers bhal Kaka u Cristiano Ronaldo m'hemmx dubju li Mourinho, ghal darba ohra, ghandu f'idejh l-ghodda biex jasal. Kollox jiddependi mill-pressjoni li se ssir fuqu mid-dirigenza, mill-partitarji u mill-ambjent Madrilen inifsu li forsi ma tantx huwa sintonizzat mal-pragmatizmu ta' Mourinho.

Real Madrid huwa tim maghruf ghall-futbol offensiv u attraenti izda f'dawn l-ahhar snin dan il-futbol ma tantx gab unuri lejn il-klabb. Mourinho mhux bilfors joffri dan it-tip ta' futbol izda bhala kumpens kapaci jgib ir-rizultati. Issa wiehed irid jara kemm se jbati sakemm Mourinho jirnexxielu jdawwar il-mentalita Madrilena u kemm se jkunu lesti jiehdu pacenzja bih id-dirigenti ta' dan il-klabb sakemm jasal fejn irid.

Ir-rivali principali ta' Real Madrid fi Grupp G se jkunu Milan li f'din il-kompetizzjoni tant ghandhom rekord tajjeb. Fl-ewwel loghoba taghhom fil-kampjonat Milan urew sinjali ta' titjib kbir mill-istagun li ghadda. Ronaldinho deher trasformat, Pato rega' jinsab frisk u efficjenti quddiem il-lasta u bl-akkwist tal-attakkanti Ibrahimovic u Robinho Milan jistghu jergghu isibu ruhhom protagonisti ewlenin.

B'zewg timijiet jghaddu minn kull grupp il-kwalifikazzjoni ghal Milan u Real Madrid tidher prattikament assigurata b'Ajax u Auxerre probabilment jispiccaw jikkompetu ghat-tielet post u kwalifikazzjoni ghall-Europa League.

Il-kowc li ha post Mourinho ma' Inter, Rafa Benitez sab ruhu fi Grupp A flimkien ma' Werder Bremen, Tottenham u Twente. Fuq il-karta Inter ma jidhirx li jista' jkollhom problemi serji biex jghaddu minn dan il-grupp. Izda Benitez, bhal Mourinho, irid jiggieled kontra mentalita li sarett parti mis-sistema ta' Inter.

Il-kowc Spanjol ikkonferma dan u ammetta li qed isibha difficli jibdel il-mentalita tal-plejers tieghu u jwassalhom biex jaqilbu mis-sistema ta' Mourinho ghas-sistema tieghu. Dan wassal biex s'issa rajna lil Inter jitilfu s-Super Cup kontra Atletico Madrid u jibdew il-kampjonat bi dro kontra Bologna.

Benitez qal li taht Mourinho il-plejers kienu mdorrija jilghabu bil-kontrattakk izda hu irid tim li jiddfendi oghla u jzomm aktar il-pussess tal-ballun. Fi ftit kliem Benitez irid lil Inter jilghabu futbol aktar attraenti u hekk ikun tahom it-timbru tieghu. Fil-verita ghal Benitez se jkun difficli jirbah aktar mill-predecessur tieghu u ghalhekk irid li jirbah isbah.

Dan mhux se jkun facli specjalment meta wiehed jiftakar li l-plejers li ghandu huma bazikament il-plejers ta' Mourinho li jibqghu leali lejh u lejn is-sistemi tieghu grazzi ghas-success li dawn gabulhom. Wiehed ma jridx jinsa wkoll li uhud mil-kolonni tat-tim qabzu t-tletin sena u bidla fil-mentalita u sistema ghal dawn il-plejers tista' tkun aktar difficli.

Minkejja dan Inter m'ghandhomx jonqsu milli jikkwalifikaw b'Werder Bremen potenzjalment joffru l-akbar sfida. Werder Bremen irnexxielhom jeliminaw lil Sampdoria fil-playoffs u jinsabu kunfidenti li jghaddu minn dan il-grupp. Il-General Manager ta' Bremen Klaus Allofs qal li Werder huma rrenkjati fid-9 post fl-Ewropa u jemmen li, "l-grupp huwa difficli ghat-timijiet l-ohra" u mhux ghall-klabb tieghu.

Ghal Tottenham din se tkun l-ewwel avventura fic-Champions League u n-nuqqas ta' esperjenza tista' tilghab parti importanti hafna f'dan l-istadju. Ghalkemm Spurs jistghu jaghtu loghoba lil kulhadd wiehed ghad irid jara kemm l-iskwadra hija preparata mentalment u fizikament ghal sfida bhal din flimkien mal-impenji domestici.

Tottenham jinsabu ezatt fuq il-linja bejn li jiggieldu ma' Werder Bremen ghat-tieni post u ma' Twente ghat-tielet post. Episodji partikolari waqt il-loghobiet u l-forma ta' plejers importanti ghandhom jiddeciedu lejn fejn se jxaqleb il-mizien.

Fi Grupp C se jkollna l-battalja tar-Renju Unit b'Manchester United jiltaqghu kontra l-Iskoccizi Rangers. Fl-istess grupp hemm ukoll Bursaspor tat-Turkija u Valencia ta' Spanja b'dawn tal-ahhar ikunu mdghajjfa wara l-bejgh ta' David Villa, Carlos Marchena u David Silva.

Kontra Rangers Manchester United ghandhom jistennew battalja fizika aktar milli teknika izda l-Iskoccizi ma tantx ghandhom rekord tajjeb fl-Ewropa u ma kellhomx xi kampanja akkwisti b'sahhitha. Nemmen li r-Red Devils ghandu jkollhom bizzejjed kwalita biex jinnegozjaw iz-zewg loghobiet kontra t-tim ta' Glasgow.

Mill-banda l-ohra loghoba fit-Turkija qatt m'hi facli izda l-loghoba ghand Bursaspor se tkun ir-raba wahda ghall-United fil-grupp. Hekk, sa dakinhar it-tim ta' Sir Alex Ferguson jista' ga jkun relattivament komdu fi triqtu lejn il-kwalifikazzjoni bit-tlett timijiet l-ohra jikkontestaw it-tieni post tal-grupp.

Chelsea ta' Carlo Ancelotti jinsabu fi Grupp F flimkien ma' Marseilles ta' Franza, Spartak Moscow tar-Russja u Zilina tas-Slovakkja. Dan huwa grupp li m'ghandux joffri problemi kbar ghall-Blues biex jghaddu ghal fazi li jmiss. Marseilles mistennija joffru l-aqwa oppozizzjoni izda l-loghoba fi Franza tintlaghab fit-tieni gimgha ta' Dicembru u sa dakinhar Chelsea jistghu ikunu prattikament akkwistaw il-kwalifikazzjoni.

Is-Slovakki ta' Zilina se jkunu qed jiddebuttaw f'din il-fazi u ma jidhirx li jistghu joffru intoppi serji lil Marseilles u Chelsea. Min-naha l-ohra loghoba kontra Spartak Moscow, specjalment fir-Russja, qatt m'hi passiggata u l-possibilita li l-Moskoviti jtellfu l-punti liz-zewg favoriti zgur mhix eskluza.

Tim iehor Ingliz fic-Champions League huwa Arsenal li telghu biex jilghabu fi Grupp H flimkien ma' Shaktar Donetsk tal-Ukraina, Braga tal-Portugall u Partizan Belgrade tas-Serbja.
Mal-ewwel daqqa t'ghajn dan jidher grupp relattivamet hafif ghall-Gunners izda r-realta' tista' tkun differenti. Arsenal ghandhom kwalita teknika li tisboq lil dik tat-timijiet l-ohra fil-grupp izda l-aggressivita fl-istil ta' Partizan u Shaktar u l-ambjent difficli li jista' jinholoq ghand dawn iz-zewg timijiet jaghmlu l-grupp ta' Arsenal wiehed ferm 'il boghod minn passiggata.

F'dan il-grupp Braga huwa l-aktar tim li jipprova jilghab il-loghoba bhal Arsenal u hekk, bl-istess stil ta' loghob, it-tim ta' Arsene Wenger ghandu jkun superjuri. Izda z-zewg loghobiet l-ohra, partikolarment barra minn Londra, jistghu joffru problemi ghal Arsenal u ma jhallux ir-rebh tal-grupp konkluzjoni assigurata.

Matul is-sajf Arsenal sahhew id-difiza taghhom b'Laurent Koscielni u Sebastian Squillaci filwaqt li fl-attakk ziedu lil Mourane Chamakh izda xorta jittammaw li l-pedini taghhom Cesc Fabregas u Robin Van Persie b'dan tal-ahhar diga' jinsab imwegga'.

Fi Grupp E il-finalisti tac-Champions League tal-istagun li ghadda Bayern Munich tal-Germanja flimkien mat-Taljani ta' Roma m'ghandhomx ifallu l-passagg ghat-tieni fazi meta jridu jiffaccjaw lil Basel tal-Isvizzera u Cluj tar-Rumanija.

Dawn l-ahhar zewg timijiet gieli offrew sorprizi izda issa l-avversarji taghhom mhux se jwettqu l-izbalji li twettqu qabel u l-element tas-sorpriza mhux se jibqa' daqshekk importanti. Bayern jibdew favoriti li jirbhu dan il-grupp b'Roma, issa msahha fost l-ohrajn mill-attakkanti Adriano u Boriello, ghandhom jassiguraw almenu t-tieni post b' Basel u Cluj jikkompetu ghal-post fl-Europa League.

Is-semifinalisti Barcelona, imdghajjfa mit-tluq ta' Zlatan Ibrahimovic izda msahha minn akkwisti bhal David Villa u Javier Mascherano, jibdew favoriti netti li jirbhu Grupp D li jinkludi wkoll lil Panathinaikos tal-Grecja, Copenhagen tad-Danimarkau Rubin Kazan tar-Russja.

Panathinaikos f'darhom jistghu ikunu forza filwaqt li l-istagun li ghadda Rubin Kazan urew loghob ta' kwalita teknika gholja. Minhabba f'hekk dawn it-tnejn mistennija jikkontestaw it-tieni post tal-grupp b'Copenhagen jidhru l-aktar tim dghajjef.

Fl-ahhar nett naraw li t-timijiet li jiffurmaw Grupp B huma Lyon ta' Franza, Benfica tal-Portugall, Schalke tal-Germanja u Hapoel tal-Izrael. Dan jidher li jista' jkun grupp interessanti hafna fejn fuq il-karta Lyon, Benfica u Schalke, imsahha mill-akkwist ta' Huntelaar minghand

Milan, jidhru bejn wiehed w iehor tal-istess livell. Dawn it-timijiet kollha jistghu jiehdu l-punti lil xulxin u ghalhekk il-grupp mistenni jkun wiehed incert.
Min-naha l-ohra Hapoel, ghalkemm jidhru l-aktar tim dghajjef, jistghu jaghtu joffru oppozizzjoni f'sahhitha lil kulhadd u ma tkunx sporpriza jekk jirnexxielhom itellfu l-punti lit-timijiet akjtar rinomati specjalment fl-Izrael.

Dawn huma l-aqwa 32 tim tal-Ewropa. F'nofs dan ix-xahar nitilqu maghhom ghal vjagg twil mimli emozzjonijiet, ferh, dizappunti, kontroversja u diskussjoni. Vjagg li matulu naraw lill-aqwa klabbs Ewropej jikkompetu bejniethom ghall-aktar unur prestiggjuz li joffri l-futbol Ewropew. Vjagg li jwassalna fit-tempju tal-futbol Wembley Stadium fejn hemmekk, fil-monarkija li tatna l-futbol, naraw tigi nkurunata lir-regina tal-futbol Ewropew.

HARRY NAMED TOP PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGER

Harry Redknapp has been named Premier League Manager of the Year after breaking into the top four with Tottenham. Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have monopolised the UEFA Champions League positions in recent seasons and were expected to dominate once more this term.

Manchester City were tipped to mount a strong challenge after investing heavily in their squad, with the likes of Tottenham, Aston Villa and Everton considered outsiders. But Spurs have enjoyed a stunning campaign, recording victories over Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool at White Hart Lane.

Other highlights included the 9-1 demolition of Wigan in November, as well as the 1-0 triumph at Manchester City on Wednesday that guaranteed Champions League qualification for the first time in the club's history.

Redknapp, who took charge in October 2008 when Spurs were bottom of the table, was thrilled with the accolade but paid tribute to his players and the rest of the backroom staff.

"I'm delighted to receive the award but it's a team effort with Kevin (Bond), Joe (Jordan), Clive (Allen), Tony (Parks), Tim (Sherwood), Les (Ferdinand) and all the coaching and fitness staff," he told the club's official website.
"Really, I'm just part of the team. It's all down to the players and what they've achieved. It's down to them really and a real honour to receive it."

The prize is decided by the Barclays awards panel, which is made up of football's governing bodies, the media and fans.

Redknapp becomes only the second manager since the formation of the Premier League to win the gong without having won the league, following in the footsteps of George Burley after the Scot guided Ipswich to fifth place in 2000/01.

Well done Harry, and Thanks for a Fantastic Season

GOOD HARRY REDKNAPP ARTICLE ON THE TELEGRAPH

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has risen from folk hero to top-class coach It is time to say goodbye to the cliché, to Harry the folk hero, the crafty Cockney, the wheeler dealer, the cheeky chappy with the gift of the gab – know what I mean? And to recognise formally Redknapp the high class coach.

Gareth Bale, Michael Dawson, Benoît Assou-Ekotto, Tom Huddlestone, Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Heurelho Gomes offer incontrovertible proof of Redknapp's power to transform, to mould, to improve, to inspire. All are better players now than they were before coming under Redknapp's tutelage.

Tottenham Hotspur did not achieve Champions League status by accident. Fortune played no part in the victory over Manchester City at Eastlands. Spurs understood the demand. Each did his job. They were organised, composed, executed a plan and won with little bother in the end. None of this surprised Redknapp.

Time to get serious about Redknapp It shouldn't have surprised us. He hasn't changed. It is perception that needs to alter to take proper account of a serious player.

There isn't a journalist working in football in England who does not have a Harry anecdote, a comic aside that reinforces Redknapp's potential for slapstick. Here's a personal favourite.

"What's happening about Marco Negri, Harry?" "Negri? Don't know what you are talking about? Who's he?" "That bloke from Rangers running around the training ground behind you." "Oh that Negri. Yeah we are having a look at him."

This was a comment on the times as much as Redknapp practice. Redknapp was in his first senior post having taken over at West Ham from Billy Bonds. Foreign players flooded the English market in the post-Bosman frenzy.

Training grounds doubled as clearing houses for exotic names. Inevitably mistakes were made. Redknapp's principal howlers were Marco Boogers and Florin Raducioiu, punts that did not even hint at coming off.

None of the same uncertainties informed his judgment of domestic talent. At West Ham Redknapp developed academy prospects Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick and Joe Cole.

At Portsmouth he plucked international footballers from under a perpetual Christmas tree, albeit with a leveraged chequebook, and won the FA Cup playing enterprising, open football.

The problem was that the quality of his output could never quite escape the suspect protocols of the Pompey business plan, which resulted in a dawn raid at his home in Poole and a case to answer brought by the Inland Revenue that is ongoing.

Thus his unveiling at Spurs following the hopeless failure of Juande Ramos was seen as a gamble for chairman Daniel Levy and a last chance for Redknapp to break free of the stereotype that chained him and to establish himself as a coach with bona fide credentials.

Redknapp's success exposed the default recourse to foreign coaches as the baseless fad it was. Ramos was imported from Seville a guru and left impotent, a man without a voice shuffling from foot to foot on the touchline powerless to shape events.

Redknapp made immediate sense of the chaos, giving the players a structure and leadership. Twenty months on he is a Champions League manager. Astonishing. Like most in the game Redknapp does not dispense wisdom using vocabulary from an academic register.

His English is estuary plain. The football lexicon is often a crude tool with its own rules. Redknapp is fluent in this language. What Tottenham have given him that he did not have before is a platform.

"I know a few journalists ridiculed me because I said there were good English coaches. There are good ones all over the country at all levels – it's a crying shame they don't get the opportunity," Redknapp said in the first flush of Wednesday's triumph.

Steve McClaren is similarly feted in Holland following championship success with FC Twente. Roy Hodgson's quiet revolution at Fulham draws universal admiration.

The English coach is suddenly the must-have accoutrement. The Bundesliga is in a lather over McClaren. Hodgson is seen as the man to nurse Liverpool to health. Redknapp's reputation now submits to the ultimate test.

There will still be some who sneer at his affection for 4-4-2, who question whether he has the tactical agility to move with the times, the flexibility to adapt to the technical demands of the continental challenge.

On Wednesday he said his policy would be to 'have a go'. Redknapp understands that tactics are subordinate to talent. That giving his players confidence is as important as structure.

Against City Tottenham showed themselves replete in both. Is he ready for the Champions League? Pah. Is the Champions League ready for Harry?

TEAM NEWS V BLACKBURN

Bentley, Huddlestone, Jenas, King, Lennon, Cudicini, Woodgate all out injured. David and JJ closing in on a return to training - Carlo is scheduled to have a plate removed from his wrist next week.

INTERVISTA MA' OSVALDO ARDILES

Fil-granet li ghaddew kelli l-opportunita li niltaqa’ mar-rebbieh tat-Tazza tad-Dinja mal-Argentina u ex-plejer ta’ Tottenham Osvaldo Ardiles. L-okkazjoni kienet intervista pubblika li ghamiltlu f'lukanda ewlenija fil-Floriana. Nista' nghid li kienet diskursata interessanti hafna fejn dawk mistiedna mhux biss segwew b'attenzjoni izda kellhom l-opportunita li anki huma jaghmlu l-mistoqsijiet taghhom.

Ardiles, li twieled fit-3 t'Awissu tal-1952, kien parti mit-tim Argentin li rebah it-Tazza tad-Dinja fl-1978. Dakinhar fil-finali ta' Buones Aires it-tim ta' Menotti gheleb lill-Olanda 3-1 fil-hin barrani. F'dak it-tim Ardiles laghab ma' plejers bhal Daniel Passarella, Mario Kempes, Daniel Bertoni u Americo Gallego.

Ardiles laghab ukoll fit-Tazza tad-Dinja tal-1982 fejn laghab ma dak li hu jiddeskrivi bhala "habib hafna tieghi" Diego Armando Maradona. Il-hbiberija sinciera bejn Ardiles u Maradona tohrog mill-fatt li meta mistoqsi jekk jahsibx li Maradona huwa l-kowc li jista' jwassal lill-Argentina ghar-rebh tat-Tazza tad-Dinja, Ardiles ghazel li ma jikkummentax u qal li, "ma' Maradona laghabt ghal 8 snin u sirna hbieb. Ma nissugrax nikkummenta dwaru ghax kull kumment jista' jigi nterpretat hazin".

Kurzita li rajna matul it-Tazza tad-Dinja tal-1982 kien il-fatt li Ardiles laghab bin-numru wiehed, numru normalment assocjat mal-gowlkiper. B'cajta Ardiles qal li kellu n-numru wiehed "ghax kont l-aqwa plejer".

Izda mbaghad huwa spjega li fl-iskwadra tal-1982 kien hemm numru ta' plejers li riedu n-numru 10 u ghalhekk il-federazzjoni Argentina iddecidiet li tqssam in-numri skond l-ordni alfabetika. Hekk Ardiles spicca ha n-numru wiehed. Jidher li fl-1978 kienet intuzat l-istess sistema. Dakinhar Ardiles kellu n-numru 2 bin-numru 1 imur ghand il-midfielder Norberto Alonso.

Dwar is-success tat-Tazza tad-Dinja Ardiles jiftakar li t-tim nazzjonali Argentin kien taht pressjoni kbira minhabba li kien qed jilghab f'daru. Huwa jghid li kien ferm dubjuz ghal finali izda beda l-loghoba u rnexxielu jvinci sebghin minuta fejn kellu parti fil-gowl li bih l-Argentina marru fil-vantagg, bl-Olanda eventwalment igibu d-draw fit-tieni taqsima.

L-aktar mument li Ardiles jiftakar minn din il-finali hu ix-xutt ta' Rob Rensenbrink fl-ahhar minuta, xutt li skond Ardiles, "...kien diehel gewwa, kien gowl cert. Ghidt daqshekk, spicca kollox. Addio Tazza tad-Dinja...izda l-ballun bidel id-direzzjoni tieghu fl-ahhar sekonda u b'xi mod laqat il-lasta. Ftit li xejn niftakar minn dik il-gurnata imma s-silenzju perfett sakemm il-ballun deher diehel u n-nifs kbir kollettiv li nstema' fl-istejdjum meta habat mal-lasta niftakarhom cari daqs il-kristall”.

Ir-rebh tat-Tazza tad-Dinja fetah orizzonti godda ghal Ardiles u ftit wara, flimkien ma' Ricky Villla, spicca jilghab fl-Ingilterra ma' Tottenham. Ma' Tottenham Ardiles rebah l-FA Cup darbtejn u t-Tazza UEFA fl-1984.

F'White Hart Lane huwa laghab ma' plejers bhal Glenn Hoddle, siehbu Villa, u Steve Perryman. Wara l-1984 Ardiles halla l-Ingilterra u mar jilghab ma' PSG fi Franza izda wara sena huwa rega' sab ruhu bil-flokk abjad ta' Tottenham. Hawn baqa' sal-1988 u anki ghamel sena bhala care taker manager bejn it-tluq ta' David Pleat u l-hatra ta' Terry Venables.

Meta kkummenta dwar it-trasferiment tieghu ghal ma Tottenham Ardiles qal li hu kien sorpriz daqs kulhadd. "Ridt immur nilghab fl-Ewropa u kien hemm hafna spekulazzjoini dwari. Kienu qed jissemmew biss il-kampjonat Spanjol dak Taljan u xi ftit il-kampjonat Franciz"

"Meta l-president ta' Huracan qalli li jriduni fl-Ingilterra bqajt b'halqi miftuh. Fuq il-futbol Ingliz ftit li xejn kont naf u fuq Tottenham anqas w anqas. Niftakar li lil maniger ta' Tottenham Keith Burkinshaw ikkonvincewh li ahjar jixtri zewg plejers u dan ha lili u lil Villa. Villa, bhali, qatt ma holom li jilghab l-Ingilterra u dejjem kien jghid li sejjer jilghab Spanja jew l-Italja"

Dwar Burkinshaw Ardiles jghid li dan "qatt ma pprova jghallimni l-futbol. Kien biss jiccalingjani. Qabel kull loghoba kien jghidli 'ejja champion tad-dinja- ha naraw x'kapaci taghmel kontra dan jew dak il-plejer'. Kultant nemmen li ghal plejers bhali dan kien tajjeb hafna. Burkinshaw kien ihallini nilghab il-loghoba tieghi u dan kien vantagg kbir ghalia"

Kontra dak li nisimghu dwar certu plejers illum, minkejja l-bdil fl-istil ta' loghob, klima, dieta u stil ta' hajja, Ardiles qal li hu qatt ma sabha difficli jissettilja fl-Ingilterra u fil-futbol Ingliz. Jinsisti li ghalih kienet xi haga facli hafna li jadatta. Hu qal ukoll li ma' Tottenham laghab ma plejers li jilghabu l-ballun mal-art- il-futbol li jilghab hu u ghalhekk ma sabx problema jintegra ruhu fit-tim.

Mistoqsi min kien l-ahjar plejer li laghab mieghu ma' Tottenham, bla tlaqlieq, Ardiles iwiegeb, "Glenn Hoddle..hasra li qatt ma kien daqshekk apprezzat mit-tim nazzjonali Ingliz".

La konna qed nitkellmu fuq il-karriera tieghu bhala plejer ma' Tottenham ma stajtx ma nsemmilux il-famuza kanzunetta rekordjata qabel il-finali tal-FA Cup tal-1981. Din kienet diska dwar il-holma ta' Ardiles li jilghab f'Wembley fejn Ardiles ikanta l-frazi , "...in the cup for Tottingham".

Din dahaqha. Qal li hu qatt ma ried jirrekordja d-diska izda fl-ahhar ikkoncvincewh. Ghall-ewwel m'ghogbitu xejn u ghamel zmien ma jridx jismaghha. "Imma issa bdiet toghgobni. Bdejt naraha tajba. Tant hi tajba li ghadha tindaqq sal-lum" qal Ardiles bid-dahqa.

Fost it-timijiet li kkowcja Ardiles fl-Ingilterra hemm Swindon Town u WBA fejn mat-tnejn irnexxielu jirbah promozzjoni. Ma' Swindon Ardiles baqa' maghruf ghal kif bidel is-sistema tal-ballun fit-tul ghal futbol mal-art.

Staqsejtu kemm kien difficli jew facli jibdel il-mentalita tal-plejers. Qalli li ghalih mhux kwistjoni ta' mentalita imma kwistjoni ta' kemm il-maniger kapaci jikkonvinci u jwassal il-messagg. "Il-futbol hekk ghandu jintlaghab. Mal-art. Meta bdew gejjin ir-rizultati u beda jidher il-frott il-bicca xoghol ma baqghetx difficli".

Bejn l-1993 u l-1994 Ardiles kien maniger ta' Tottenham fejn baqa' maghruf ghal-lineup offensiva li kienet tinkludi lil Jurgen Klinsmann, Teddy Sheringham, Darren Anderton, Illie Dumitrescu u Nicky Barmby. Staqsejtu jekk jahsibx li maniger ghandu jilghab il-plejers tajbin kollha anki jekk ibati xi ftit il-bilanc tat-tim.

Risposta cara u skjetta "Da zgur li mainger ghandu jilghab il-plejers tajbin kollha tieghu. Il-problema li kelli jien ma kinitx li t-tim kien offensiv wisq izda affarijiet ohra wara l-kwinti".

Tlabtu jelabora u hawn hareg id-dispjacir sincier li ghad ghandu sal-lum ghall- fatt li ha f'idejh lil Tottenham fi zmien hazin u mimli intricci interni. L-imhabba ghal Tottenham ghadha f'sahhitha hafna u Ardiles jaghmilha cara li xtaq mexxa lil Tottenham fi zminijiet aktar stabbli.

Tottenham kien ghadhom hergin mill-glieda bejn Alan Sugar u Terry Venables b'dan tal-ahhar jispicca barra l-klabb. "Messni qrajt is-sitwazzjoni ahjar. Venables kien ghadu kif tnehha mill-klabb u hafna mill-plejers li sibt jien kienu plejers tieghu. Dawn kienu ghal kollox kontra Sugar u qatt ma riedu li jitlaq Venables. Ghalhekk ftit stajt insib armonija u sapport. Barra minn hekk, jien kont laghabt ma' uhud mill-plejers u dawn sabuha difficli jaccettawnu bhala maniger taghhom".

"Mit-timijiet kollha li kkowcjajt Tottenham kien il-post fejn l-aktar li sibt problemi. L-intricci interni kienu inkredibbli. Fazzjoni tal-plajers baqghet leali lejn Venables u la d-decizjoinijiet ta' Sugar u lanqas jien ma konna accettati"

Dwar Sugar Ardiles jghid li l-intenzjonijiet tieghu kienu tajbin izda hu ma kienx bniedem tal-futbol u d-decizjonijiet mhux dejjem kienu l-ahjar ghall-klabb. "Ridt nixtri plejers Inglizi ghax kellna bzonnhom izda dawn qatt ma waslu".

Is-sitwazzjoni kompliet titgharraq meta Sugar gab lil Claude Litner bhala Chief Executive. "Dan beda jaqta' l-ispejjez b'mod li ma jaghhmilx sens u plejers kienu qed jigu urtati ghal xejn."

"Kelli wkoll kwistjoni mieghu dwar Teddy Sheringham fejn jien kont qed nahdem biex ingeddidlu l-kuntratt u Litner kien qed jittama li jsib lil xi hadd tajjeb daqsu b'nofs il-pagi li kellu Sheringham….Fiz-zmien li ghamilt bhala maniger ta' Tottenham kien qisni pumpier il-hin kollu nipprova nitfi n-nar".

Quddiem dawn il-problemi kollha ma stajtx ma nsaqsiehx kif fil-ktieb tieghu jghid li meta telaq minn ma' Tottenham kienet l-aktar haga li wegghetu fil-karriera tieghu. Infakkru li fl-awtobiografija tieghu Ardiles jghid, "...L-aktar haga difficli li gratli f'hajjti kienet li hallejt lil Tottenham. L-aktar zmien iswed ghalia wara l-gwerra tal-Falklands kien it-tluq tieghi minn ma' Tottenham".

"Lil Tottenham inhobbhom"....jirrispondi Ardiles "Dik id-dar tieghi. Tottenham huma hajjti. Dejjem emmint li kont destinat immexxi lil Spurs. Xtaqt hafna mexxejthom fi zminijiet differenti. Ghazilt zmien hazin wisq. Messni stennejt, izda meta giet is-sejha qalbi kkmandatni."

Tkellimna dwar Alan Sugar u r-relazzjoni ta' bejniethom. Kuntrarju ghal li jahsbu hafna nies Ardiles jghid li hu kellu relazzjoni tajba hafna ma' Sugar "...sakemm qalli 'you're fired' u spicca kollox" ikompli l-ex internazzjonali Argentin.

Kelli kurzita dwar anedottu li kont smajt dwar Alan Sugar fis-sens li dan ma riedx ihallas lil dawk il-plejers li kienu mwegga'. Ardiles ma wegibx "iva" izda bir-risposta tieghu ma halliex dubju li din l-istorja mhux 'il boghod hafna mill-verita.

Fl-ahhar tal-intervista irritornajna ghall-prezent u ghalaqna nitkellmu dwar kemm hu possibbli ghal timijiet bhal Tottenham u Aston Villa jiksbu post regolari mal-ewwel erbgha. Ghal Ardiles dan m'hu facli xejn.

"L-ewwel erbgha jinsabu f'cirku vizzjuz fis-sens pozittiv. Jikkwalifikaw ghac-champions league, jissahhu finanzjarjament u jattiraw l-ahjar plejers kemm minhabba l-pagi u kif ukoll minhabba l-attrazzjoni tac-Champions league infisha"

Ghal timijiet ohra huwa difficli jattiraw plejers tal-livell tac-Champions League. "Jistghu jattiraw plejers tajbin imma mhux plejers eccezzjonali li tassew jaghmlu d-differenza".

Skond Ardiles dan jistghu jaghmluh biss Manchester City ghax, minkejja li m'humiex fic-Champions League, jistghu jattiraw l-aqwa plejrs permezz tal-pagi.

"Jekk timijiet bhal Tottenham u Aston Villa jirnexxielhom jikkwalifikaw darba ghac-Champions League ir-rota tista' tibda ddur bil-mod izda li tikkwalifika l-ewwel darba huwa difficli ferm".

Ardiles jerga jwaqqa d-diskors fuq it-tim ta' qalbu- Tottenham- u jghid li fl-opinjoni tieghu it-tim jonqsu playmaker ta' certu klassi li jilghab il-loghoba ta' Spurs u attakkant tajjeb li jikkumplimenta lil Jermaine Defoe.

"Defoe qed jilghab tajjeb hafna u bi plejer ta' klassi li jikkumplimentah Tottenham ikollhom attakk fenomenali. F'nofs il-graswnd nara plejer wiehed li Tottneham jistghu jattiraw u li jaghmel id-differenza kollha. Plejer li jgib lil Tottenham jilghabu l-loghoba tat-Tottenham. Dan hu Juan Roman Riquelme ta' Boca Juniors"

U b'dak il-parir minghand min rebah it-Tazza tad-Dinja l-intervista giet fi tmiemha sabiex Ardiles seta' jqatta' ftit hin jitkellem mal-mistiedna dwar il-loghoba li tant ghadu jhobb.

MARK MIZZI

(i) Ritratt tal-intervista- Aidan Formosa
(ii) Iz-zjara ta’ Osvaldo Ardiles f’Malta kienet possibbli grazzi ghal Tottenham Hotspur Malta, MTA- Island of Gozo, Air Malta, Grand Hotel Excelsior, Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, Gozo Football Association, Sullivan Maritime, Marsovin, China Town (Mriehel, Cospicua),Waterline Restaurant (Marsascala)

FA CUP SEMI-FINAL DATES ANNOUNCED

The Football Association has announced the dates and times for the semi-finals of the FA Cup and Villa will take on Chelsea on Saturday, April 10, kick-off 6pm.

Sem-final draw...
Aston Villa v Chelsea, Saturday April 10, 6pm
Fulham/SPURS v Portsmouth, Sunday April 11, 5pm

Our quarter-final replay against Fulham will take place on 24th March at 8.45pm

OSSIE BACK IN MALTA

Tottenham Hotspur Malta announce that World Cup winner, and Argentina and Tottenham Hotspur legend Osvaldo Ardiles will be in Malta on 12 February 2010.

This visit is being supported by MTA- Island of Gozo, Air Malta, Grand Hotel Excelsior, Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, Gozo Football Association, Sullivan Maritime, Marsovin, China Town (Mriehel, Cospicua), Waterline Restaurant (Marsascala) and Amabile Zammit.

Ossie, as he is affectionately known by Spurs fans worldwide, won the 1978 World Cup with Argentina and became a cult hero in England, along with Glenn Hoddle and compatriot Ricardo Villa with Tottenham Hotspur.

After the 1978 World Cup Ardiles joined Tottenham where he spent four seasons. He helped Spurs win the FA Cup in his third season (1980-81) and collaborated with pop duo Chas and Dave as well as the rest of the Tottenham players for a song - "Ossie's Dream" - in which he famously pronounced Tottenham as "Tottingham".

He played a big part in another FA Cup triumph the following year, but did not play in the final. He also helped Tottenham win the UEFA Cup in 1984, leaving shortly afterwards to sign for Paris Saint Germain in France

After just one season in Paris, he returned to Tottenham, where he stayed until 1988. In the autumn of 1987, he was caretaker manager of Tottenham between the resignation of David Pleat and the appointment of Terry Venables He then played for Blackburn Rovers, Queens Park Rangers and Swindon Town, before being appointed as manager of Swindon Town in July 1989.
He returned to Spurs as manager between 1993 and 1994 where he famously played several matches utilizing a formation that had five forwards, a formation that hadn't been used in English football since the 1950’s.

On 7 February 2008 Ossie Ardiles, along with his fellow countryman Ricky Villa, was inducted into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame

Tottenham Hotspur Malta will be organising a Question and Answer Session with the former Argentine international at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Floriana on Friday 12th February from 7.30pm onwards.

After a short interview by sports journalist Mark Mizzi, Mr Ardiles will mingle with guests who will be able to get to know the man who, besides being a football legend, also starred in the epic movie "Escape to Victory" alongside other legends such as Pele and Bobby Moore. Guests will have time to take pictures with Mr Ardiles. Light finger food and wine will be served throughout the night.

Tickets for this unique chance to meet a true football legend are on sale from Tottenham Hotspur Malta, 22, St. Frederick Street, Valletta and Geraldu’s Kiosk Valletta at 10 Euros. One may also call on 79691882 for more information.

Tottenham Hotspur Malta intend to use this visit as a launch pad for bigger events involving other former players and present players. The Club wants to create a legacy between Mr Ardiles and the Maltese Islands as this does not only benefit football enthusiasts but also niche tourism.

In this regard the Club is already in talks with Mr Ardiles over a bigger event which will not be focused solely on Malta but also on the Island of Gozo

MTA, Island of Gozo - Air Malta - Grand Hotel Excelsior
Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz - Gozo Football Association - Sullivan Maritime Marsovin - China Town (Mriehel, Cospicua)
Waterline Restaurant (Marsascala)

EIDUR JOINS ON LOAN

O'Hara and Dos Santos loaned out

We have completed the signing of former Chelsea and Barcelona forward Eidur Gudjohnsen on a loan deal from Monaco for the end of the season.

The 31-year-old Icelander, who also attracted interest from London rivals West Ham, underwent a medical and agreed terms on the move on Thursday.
"He's a player I've always admired," said boss Harry Redknapp. "He can play several positions and is very clever.
"It was his decision to come to us. He said 'I want to come to Tottenham'."

West Ham had been confident of arranging a deal after Gudjohnsen underwent a medical at the club but Harry convinced him to opt for the Lane.
"I rang him and left a message on his phone and he came back to me and said 'I want to come to Tottenham'," said Redknapp. "He gives us lots of options. He is a top player."

Gudjohnsen will provide cover for a number of positions as they look to push for a top-four finish.

Gudjohnsen has won League titles in England, Holland and Spain, and was an unused substitute for Barcelona when they won the Champions League final in 2009.

Meanwhile thw club has rejected an offer for Pavlyuchenko from Birmingham while Jamie O'Hara has re-joined Portsmouth on loan and Giovani Dos Santos hasd been loaned out to Galatassaray in Turkey.

The Club is still in talks over Younes Kaboul and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic of Portsmouth.

LEEDS TIE ON TV

Our FA Cup 4th Round tie at home to Leeds United has been selected for live television coverage by ITV and will take place on Saturday 23 January, kick-off 6.15pm (Malta time). GO subscribers in Malta may also view the game on GO's sports channels.

BUTTON EXTENDS SHREWS STAY

David Button's loan at League Two side Shrewsbury Town has been extended until February 27.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper has made seven appearances during his initial loan move to New Meadow in November, keeping three clean sheets