Football News : Redknapp plays down rift with van der Vaart

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By ESPNsoccernet staff





Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp insists there are no problems between he and Rafael van der Vaart after the forward branded claims he had criticised his manager as "rubbish".

Harry Redknapp and Rafael van der Vaart
GettyImagesHarry Redknapp says there is no rift between he and Rafael van der Vaart

Van der Vaart scored the opener in Spurs' 2-1 win over Arsenal two weeks ago,
but revealed he was unhappy at being made to play on the right wing in the absence of Aaron
Lennon.

The strong partnership that Jermain Defoe and new signing Emmanuel Adebayor
have developed this season has meant that Van der Vaart has regularly been
deployed in wide positions.

The former Real Madrid forward, who prefers to play behind a main striker, was
quoted in the Dutch press last week saying he had been left "irritated" by the
situation, but Redknapp revealed today that the 28-year-old had approached him
to say the comments had been misunderstood.

"Rafa came to see me and said to me he didn't know where all that rubbish came
from," Redknapp said. "Rafa is a great lad. I've not got a problem with him.
He is a bright, well-mannered, fantastic footballer.

"He played there (on the wing) last year for us, probably seven or eight games
and we had some great results. Some of our best results came that way."

Van der Vaart may have the opportunity to play up front in Sunday afternoon's trip to
Newcastle as Adebayor is a major doubt due to a hamstring injury.


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