Harry Redknapp defends Fabio Capello over Steven Gerrard's injury
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has defended England Head Coach Fabio Capello over criticism aimed at the Italian after Steven Gerrard picked up a hamstring injury while on international
duty. Liverpool’s fitness staff and manager were all upset over the way Gerrard played nearly the entire game of the midweek friendly with France, before picking up a hamstring injury which will rule him out for at least three weeks. However, Redknapp insists
it’s just something every manger has to deal with, and that club managers shouldn’t expect to strike deals over playing time for their players while on international duty.
Redknapp told reporters during Friday’s pre-match press conference: "It's a shame for Stevie Gerrard but no one's more patriotic than him. It can happen but it can happen out there in
training. It's just one of those things.”
The former Portsmouth and West Ham boss went on to state how he would ideally have liked Luka Modric to have a free week before Tottenham’s weekend clash, as the Croat had been playing
twice a week for almost a month now. But he explained he has never tried to compromise with a national team manager over how much playing time his player will play for his country, like Liverpool allegedly did this week, asking Capello to limit Gerrard’s playing
time to 60 minutes.
“I've never struck a deal. Luka Modric has been playing Saturday, midweek, Saturday, midweek. He went off and played for Croatia this week but I didn't ring Slaven Bilic and say, 'Slaven,
you can only play him half a game,” Redknapp explained.
The club-vs-country row is one that has been going on for years now, but while bickering amongst club mangers and national team managers will continue, the buck stops with the national
team boss, who will play the player for as long as he deems necessary. The power is with the national team bosses, but they will also be aware that good relationships with club managers will also help their cause.
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