Enrique first choice to replace under-fire AVB with Swans boss Laudrup Plan B
Former Roma coach Luis Enrique is the shock name in the frame at Tottenham if they decide to pull the trigger on Andre Villas-Boas.Enrique, now back in Spain with La Liga strugglers Celta Vigo, worked with Spurs director of football Franco Baldini in Rome.
The former Barcelona B coach had been earmarked for the top job at the Nou Camp but quit for Serie A.
Enrique, 43, spent three years coaching Barcelona B before he spent a season with Baldini at Roma.
They finished sixth in Serie A last season and he was sacked when Baldini quit Italy to take up his new role at Spurs.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s Europa League tie in Tromso, Villas-Boas insisted: ‘I am immune right now. I used to read a lot into situations like this but not any more.
'I am very indifferent. There is only one quarter that I come under pressure from, which is the press. I have the confidence of the board [and] of my players.’
Villas-Boas has abandoned Tottenham’s attacking principles and replaced them with a more cautious approach.
That is just one reason why Enrique’s name is now freely in circulation as Tottenham consider their options.
Michael Laudrup, who has done a brilliant job at Swansea, also fits the job and is likely to be considered if a change is made.
Villas-Boas is under increasing pressure after the 6-0 mauling at Manchester City and he must get a reaction from the players both on Thursday and at home to Manchester United on Sunday.
In the day: Enrique played for Barcelona during (left) and turned out for the Spanish national side (right)
In action: Enrique is currently in charge of La Liga strugglers Celta Vigo
ANother candidate: Michael Laudrup has impressed during his short spell at Swansea City
THE MAIN CANDIDATES
LUIS ENRIQUE
Played for Barcelona and Real Madrid, plus a regular in the Spain team. Coached Barcelona B but blew his big chance at Roma and is now Celta Vigo and in the bottom three of La Liga. Big pals with Tottenham’s director of football Franco Baldini.
MICHAEL LAUDRUP
Claims he will only leave Swansea for Real Madrid or Arsenal, but could the challenge seduce him? Did the lot as a player and his reputation as a manager has soared at Swansea.
HARRY REDKNAPP
Surely not . . . but he remains the only manager in Tottenham history to take them into the Champions League. Working relationship with Baldini could be a problem. Had a confrontation with Baldini after he had criticised Fabio Capello’s England by saying: ‘4-3-2-1 — what’s that, Dusty Bin?’ Fair to say they don’t get along.
Played for Barcelona and Real Madrid, plus a regular in the Spain team. Coached Barcelona B but blew his big chance at Roma and is now Celta Vigo and in the bottom three of La Liga. Big pals with Tottenham’s director of football Franco Baldini.
MICHAEL LAUDRUP
Claims he will only leave Swansea for Real Madrid or Arsenal, but could the challenge seduce him? Did the lot as a player and his reputation as a manager has soared at Swansea.
HARRY REDKNAPP
Surely not . . . but he remains the only manager in Tottenham history to take them into the Champions League. Working relationship with Baldini could be a problem. Had a confrontation with Baldini after he had criticised Fabio Capello’s England by saying: ‘4-3-2-1 — what’s that, Dusty Bin?’ Fair to say they don’t get along.
They stand ninth after last Sunday’s defeat at City.
Despite the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid in the summer for a world-record fee, Lewis authorised a massive summer spending spree to try to win the title.
Lewis believed three managerial changes at the top three clubs — champions United, City, and Chelsea — would leave them vulnerable to a surprise attack.
It is one of the reasons Lewis allowed Villas-Boas free reign to bring in the players he believed could land the club’s first league title since 1961.
But after just 12 games of the season, they are already eight points behind leaders Arsenal.
They have scored just nine goals and the new signings have yet to make their mark.
Villas-Boas spent £107m in the summer and broke the transfer record three times to sign Paulinho, Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela.
Keeping warm: Spurs stars warm up on Wednesday evening in Tromso ahead of the Europa League game
Moving on: Villas-Boas is keen to get past the crushing 6-0 defeat by Manchester City at the weekend
0 comments:
Post a Comment