Sport

Trapattoni blow for Tottenham

Giovanni Trapattoni: won't commit to Spurs
Adrian Curtis|Evening Standard
14 April 2012

Tottenham's plans to bring in Giovanni Trapattoni were hit by a major blow today when the Italian coach admitted that he wanted to stay in charge of his country.


The 65-year-old, preparing for his country's friendly against Euro 2004 hosts Portugal in Braga, was asked what would happen when his contract runs out after the championship finals in July. He said: "One thing at a time. I don't want to discuss my future, but I like the Azzurri. If it were up to me I'd sign the contract immediately, but unfortunately this isn't up to me."

The Italian's vow that he would like to stay in charge of Italy will severely disappoint chairman Daniel Levy, who wanted the Italian to take over from caretaker-manager David Pleat next season.

Spurs have grown increasingly concerned by Trapattoni's failure to accept the deal offered to him by the club and they had already started to put contingency plans in place.

Trapattoni also took a swipe at Juventus coach Marcello Lippi, tipped as a candidate to replace him as national coach. He said: "At his age I was thinking about other things than the national side but if that is what he feels like, well..."

Standard Sport now understands that Porto coach Jose Mourinho will be considered as a possible target for Tottenham should Trapattoni decide to stay with Italy.

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Spurs are already in the process of arranging a pre-season friendly with Porto and are keeping tabs on full-back Alberto Carvalho.

Mourinho claimed last month that he was approached about the Spurs job in October but told Levy he would not quit Porto during the season. Spurs then appointed Pleat as acting manager until the end of the current campaign.

Mourinho also raised eyebrows when he criticised striker Helder Postiga's move to Spurs. He claimed that only Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo would be a success in England even though Postiga joined Spurs for £6.25million from Porto in the summer.

He said: "From what I know, there are four Portuguese players in England. Silas (Wolves) and Postiga were my players at Leiria and Porto and honestly, I think, from a professional point of view,

they made the wrong choice moving into English football.

"I saw Manchester City play Tottenham and if Spurs play that way then Postiga won't ever win this challenge. He needs to be fed by the wingers and Tottenham don't play like that."

In another twist last night, Celta Vigo coach Radomir Antic resigned, a day after his team dropped to 19th in the Spanish league. Celta, who had not won in six matches under Antic, have just 28 points from 30 games.

Antic, who has previously been in charge of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, was linked with the Spurs job less than two weeks after taking over at Celta in January.

Meanwhile, Tottenham are facing an injury crisis as they plan for Saturday's visit of Chelsea. Pleat has seven first-team stars on the treatment table with another six on international duty. Stephen Kelly, Steve Carr, Gary Doherty and Robbie Keane have been called up by Ireland while Anthony Gardner and Jermain Defoe are in the England squad.

Pleat has serious doubts over Darren Anderton (achilles); Dean Richards (virus); Simon Davies (shin); Mauricio Taricco (thigh); Freddie Kanoute (bruised shin); Ledley King (hamstring) and Christian Ziege (groin).

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