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Spurs will set out to attack Milan

Tottenham players will be given permission to attack against AC Milan © Getty Images

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Harry Redknapp has suggested he will let his Tottenham side attack AC Milan from the off at San Siro on Tuesday - because that is where their strength lies.

The Spurs manager has conceded he would prefer to set his side out to be defensively solid in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 clash, but notes that with the midfield options he has at his disposal it might well be better to give them freedom to push forward and try and expose any Milan weaknesses.

"We've got to make sure we're solid here, we can't come out and be completely gung-ho but we do have a problem setting the team up to defend, it's no good saying otherwise," Redknapp said. "Rafa van der Vaart plays that way, Niko [Kranjcar] plays that way, [Aaron] Lennon... We haven't got defensive-minded players in those positions who are going to come here, sit there with five across the midfield and soak it up.

"They would find it hard to do, it's not part of the strengths that make them professional footballers. They're the exact opposites, they want to play. They will do their best defensively but they're not experts in that field.

"That's the problem for me. If I had different players I might do that but I haven't got those players. What I've got is players with a lot of flair who want to go out and play so I have got to get others around them to allow them to go and play."

Tottenham have made a successful start to their first Champions League campaign - indeed, their first in the top level of European competition since 1960 - and Redknapp believes that the increased pressure of playing in the knockout rounds will not affect his squad, who have all played games of a similar stature before in their careers.

"They're all international players anyway, they've played in World Cups and at the highest level, it shouldn't be a problem," he said. "The Croatian boys have been to Wembley in a massive game and knocked out England [in Euro 2008 qualifying], they've all been in top games, [Peter] Crouch, [Jermaine] Defoe have played in World Cup games. It shouldn't faze them, they're looking forward to it.

"Milan is the right game. They're a massive club and we've got the chance of doing well, so for me it's a good draw."

With Gareth Bale already ruled out of the match, Redknapp confirmed that Luka Modric is unlikely to play a major part after undergoing an appendix operation just ten days ago.

"It might be too soon," he said. "He joined in a little bit of training for us yesterday, and he might do some more tonight. But I can't see him starting, no."

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