• World Cup qualifying

Defoe: Villas-Boas is asking Spurs to play a new style

ESPN staff
September 4, 2012
Jermain Defoe wants to lead England's attack this weekend © PA Photos
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Jermain Defoe insists it will take time for Andre Villas-Boas to settle in as Tottenham manager, revealing the Portuguese is asking the players to play a significantly different style to that demanded by the old regime under Harry Redknapp.

Villas-Boas has had a testing start to life at White Hart Lane, taking two from a possible nine points from his first three league games. He has also upset new keeper Hugo Lloris, according to France boss Didier Deschamps, after telling the media that Brad Friedel is his No. 1.

Defoe is currently with the England squad preparing for World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine, and he is able to focus fully on international matters after recently signing a new Spurs contract. According to the striker, Villas-Boas is no different to a new signing, insisting everybody at the club has to undergo something of a culture change to understand his ideas.

"When you join a new club, it takes a while to settle in. It's no different for a manager," Defoe said. "When a new manager comes in, you know you'll be under big pressure.

"But it takes time, it's early days and it's important to give the manager time. We've got a strong squad and I'm sure we'll be fine.

"It's new ideas, a new formation - people say 'it's the same players' but we're playing a different system this year. That's going to take time because a lot of boys haven't played this way before. When we adapt, we'll be fine."

Addressing his new contract, which Defoe signed before the close of the transfer window, the striker said: "As a player you're not too sure what's going on. People ask 'are you staying or are you going?', and you're not sure how to answer them.

"But once you've signed the contract, I feel more settled and focused and I just want to do my best for the club. When you're unsettled and you're training while not being sure of your future, it's tough.

"But when you've signed that contract, and you think 'this is me for the next few years', you can just get down to work."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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