jrio
24th August 2007, 03:09 PM
The highlights:
The story broke at the start of the week but it wasn't until yesterday that the chairman gave you 100% backing. Did you ever consider resigning?
No, because I feel that if you got the response that I got over here, and especially this week from the supporters and the players, but I knew that. The key word here is continuity and stability, and that is what we gave them.
when you read at the start of the week that senior Spurs officials had met with a manager in Spain, how did you feel?
Normally it's better if you keep that secret. It's not only about us, but them as well. It's not nice but I'd worrried if something had happened with my missus, seeing pictures of her with other guys[huge grin on his face], that would be a real worry. This is different you know?
You're immensely popular with the players here, it seems curious to me that Tottenham would have talks with another manager and put you in an impossible position.
I don't feel it's an impossible position. I could have walked out but I want to do it here with my players. They backed me up. Of course, you get disappointments.
Have you been given an ultimatum?
No, no, I'm not a guy you can give an ulitmatum. I'm very proud, and very proud of this club, very proud of the supporters, so Daniel Levy sat down with me twice, and said "We never went to another club to get their coach to replace you" and as I said I believe him.
What do you think, Martin, the 2 senior officials were doing in Seville if not offering a job?
They probably asked somebody because in this industry you do that with players, you do it with managers, and of course it's disappointing for me. But after the explanantion I have to get on with the job and sometimes you feel let down but they do want to work with me otherwise they could have taken someone else. Managers like me can work all over the world. I want to be here because I love the players, I love the supporters and they told me they are satisfied with me. For me there is no problem
How is your relationship with Dimitar Berbatov?
Dimitar, it's very strange you know. He told me that he loved me as well! [Huge grin on his face]. That is a different one, huh?
We hear the rumours that you fell out with him after Sunderland and that has been the catalyst.
If players do well you tell them, and if they aren't you tell them as well. He told me "I love you, you brought me over here". It was one of the reasons he didn't go to Man United as well you know, but of course there was an approach and I said I'd rather die then sell Dimitar Berbatov. So that is the evidence. I don't know another phrase so that is what I said to him[I love you]. So he will play for us but if anyone is not doing the business, I tell them,and that has nothing to do with not liking them, and wanting to sell them. So that is disappointing that somebody said I wanted to sell Dimitar, maybe one of the papers. Firstly, I'm not responsible here for the financial things, as you know, so it's not only me, so I said to one manager that approached me that I'd rather die than sell Dimitar Berbatov, and that is the evidence.
It seems to me when I talk to the players they say that you're very honest and very fair. In view of that, don't you think the club have rather stabbed you in the back they way they've gone about these talks with Ramos?
Yeah, if you'd know everything in football it wouldn't be nice for me. As I said to you it's not easy but I gave them everything they asked for me. They asked for European football, i gave them that. Our target was top 6 and we got top 5. We got 65 points 2 years ago but I felt that was not really what I wanted. I wanted younger players because my ambition is to develop them and go even higher, you know, what Arsenal did in the past. And they gave me time, Garth, 3 years, a long time for this club. And we gave them continuity that's what it's all aabout
The fans have been amazingly supportive. You must be very pleased with that.
That is the main reason. Maybe not the main reason, the players because you have to work with them. But if you get over 5, 6,000 emails that are very supportive, that is why it probably wasn't the worst week of my life[smiles]. I felt disappointed but most of the time I felt fine because of that support.
How's your relationship now with Damien Comolli?
I've got a professional relationship with him. He helps us out to find players. If you're a manager in the Premiership, you've got 3 games in a week, you can't always look at players so that is his job. As I said, I've got a good, professional relationship with him.
Bale and Berb both fit for selection.
The story broke at the start of the week but it wasn't until yesterday that the chairman gave you 100% backing. Did you ever consider resigning?
No, because I feel that if you got the response that I got over here, and especially this week from the supporters and the players, but I knew that. The key word here is continuity and stability, and that is what we gave them.
when you read at the start of the week that senior Spurs officials had met with a manager in Spain, how did you feel?
Normally it's better if you keep that secret. It's not only about us, but them as well. It's not nice but I'd worrried if something had happened with my missus, seeing pictures of her with other guys[huge grin on his face], that would be a real worry. This is different you know?
You're immensely popular with the players here, it seems curious to me that Tottenham would have talks with another manager and put you in an impossible position.
I don't feel it's an impossible position. I could have walked out but I want to do it here with my players. They backed me up. Of course, you get disappointments.
Have you been given an ultimatum?
No, no, I'm not a guy you can give an ulitmatum. I'm very proud, and very proud of this club, very proud of the supporters, so Daniel Levy sat down with me twice, and said "We never went to another club to get their coach to replace you" and as I said I believe him.
What do you think, Martin, the 2 senior officials were doing in Seville if not offering a job?
They probably asked somebody because in this industry you do that with players, you do it with managers, and of course it's disappointing for me. But after the explanantion I have to get on with the job and sometimes you feel let down but they do want to work with me otherwise they could have taken someone else. Managers like me can work all over the world. I want to be here because I love the players, I love the supporters and they told me they are satisfied with me. For me there is no problem
How is your relationship with Dimitar Berbatov?
Dimitar, it's very strange you know. He told me that he loved me as well! [Huge grin on his face]. That is a different one, huh?
We hear the rumours that you fell out with him after Sunderland and that has been the catalyst.
If players do well you tell them, and if they aren't you tell them as well. He told me "I love you, you brought me over here". It was one of the reasons he didn't go to Man United as well you know, but of course there was an approach and I said I'd rather die then sell Dimitar Berbatov. So that is the evidence. I don't know another phrase so that is what I said to him[I love you]. So he will play for us but if anyone is not doing the business, I tell them,and that has nothing to do with not liking them, and wanting to sell them. So that is disappointing that somebody said I wanted to sell Dimitar, maybe one of the papers. Firstly, I'm not responsible here for the financial things, as you know, so it's not only me, so I said to one manager that approached me that I'd rather die than sell Dimitar Berbatov, and that is the evidence.
It seems to me when I talk to the players they say that you're very honest and very fair. In view of that, don't you think the club have rather stabbed you in the back they way they've gone about these talks with Ramos?
Yeah, if you'd know everything in football it wouldn't be nice for me. As I said to you it's not easy but I gave them everything they asked for me. They asked for European football, i gave them that. Our target was top 6 and we got top 5. We got 65 points 2 years ago but I felt that was not really what I wanted. I wanted younger players because my ambition is to develop them and go even higher, you know, what Arsenal did in the past. And they gave me time, Garth, 3 years, a long time for this club. And we gave them continuity that's what it's all aabout
The fans have been amazingly supportive. You must be very pleased with that.
That is the main reason. Maybe not the main reason, the players because you have to work with them. But if you get over 5, 6,000 emails that are very supportive, that is why it probably wasn't the worst week of my life[smiles]. I felt disappointed but most of the time I felt fine because of that support.
How's your relationship now with Damien Comolli?
I've got a professional relationship with him. He helps us out to find players. If you're a manager in the Premiership, you've got 3 games in a week, you can't always look at players so that is his job. As I said, I've got a good, professional relationship with him.
Bale and Berb both fit for selection.