As a ten-stone lightweight who stands at 5ft 7in in his boots, Luka Modric could be forgiven for shrinking from the physicality of the Barclays Premier League, but only one aspect of life at Tottenham Hotspur gives him the shivers: the temper of Henry James Redknapp.
Modric credits the man better known as Harry with transforming a side who went two months without winning a Premier League game after the Croats arrival to the brink of Champions League qualification and an FA Cup semi-final in the space of 18 months, although it has not always been a straightforward process.
Despite this consistently upward curve, the Tottenham manager has read the riot act to his players on several occasions in almost two seasons there, revealing a side to his personality that could not be farther removed from his cheery public persona.
Modric is no stranger to receiving half-time dressing-downs, particularly from Slaven Bilic, the wild-eyed Croatia coach, but he claims that Redknapps team-talks are even scarier.
Related LinksSandro flies in for Tottenham medical Redknapp has banker to bolster front lineRedknapp short of options after Defoe injuryHarry is very similar to Bilic, but is scarier in the dressing room if were losing at half-time, Modric said in the build-up to tonights FA Cup quarter-final replay at home to Fulham. They both talk a lot to the players, theyre great motivators and know exactly what to say. Harry may be a little bit scarier, but every coach whose team is losing at half-time is not in a good mood.
I have freedom going forward, but also need to work hard in defence. I know what Harry expects and dont want to let him down. Every coach has bad as well as good moments. If we play badly, he lets us know.
The Yin to Redknapps angry Yang lies in the confidence he has given his players to express themselves, with Modric being afforded more freedom than most.
Redknapp quickly identified Modrics creativity as the key to his prospects at White Hart Lane and decided to build the team around him, first from a free role on the left of midfield but increasingly playing him through the centre, and the 24-year-old has responded with the most consistent performances of his Premier League career.
As for the physical demands placed on his slight body, Modric has no complaints, with his surprising robustness partially explained by the season spent on loan at Zrinjski Mostar as a teenager in Bosnia-Herzegovinas notoriously tough league. Modric names Javier Mascherano, of Liverpool, as the most difficult opponent he has faced in England, but does not share Arsène Wengers concerns about the nature of the tackling in this country.
The Premier League is a fast and physical competition, Modric said. I know everyone suspected I was too soft for this league, but I think Ive shown its not a problem. Im not scared of anybody.
I wasnt supposed to be able to handle those things, but its not worked out like that. I like playing here. I watch a lot of football on television from all over the world and the Premier League is the best.
Modric will only be truly satisfied if Tottenham qualify for the Champions League, a competition he has yet to grace despite coming to international attention in a qualifying tie between Dynamo Zagreb and Arsenal four years ago. Modrics ambitions go beyond mere qualification, however, and he believes that Tottenhams squad can compete for the Premier League title.
If you look at our squad, I think we deserve to be in the Champions League, especially the way weve played this year, he said. Everyone believes we deserve to be there, but thats just the start.
Tottenham can reach the FA Cup semi-final, but we should be fighting for the [Premier League] title soon. I hope in the future we can win it. This season is the start of something big.
• Roman Pavlyuchenko, the Tottenham striker, is doubtful for this evenings replay after suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-1 win away to Stoke City on Saturday. Fulham are hoping that Brede Hangeland, the defender, can overcome a chest injury.
Waiting in the wings
• Luka Modric is well placed to assess the relative merits of Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon, having witnessed them running rings around Croatia in stirring England victories in the past two years, but he will always side with his Tottenham team-mate. Modric believes that Lennon has improved beyond recognition this season and backs the winger to make an impact at the World Cup should he recover from a persistent groin injury.
• Everyone talks about Walcott in Zagreb, but "Azza" was excellent against us in that 5-1 defeat at Wembley, Modric said. The Croatia team do not have great memories of Walcott and Lennon. Theyre similar in many ways as theyre both right wingers, both very fast and both score goals. They love to go one-on-one with defenders and make it look easy as theyre so quick.
• Azza is so fast. He was in great form this year and its a shame hes injured now. His passing and crossing are much better than they used to be, as he stays behind after training to practise every day.
Luka Modric was speaking at an event to mark the launch of a new regeneration programme for Tottenham Marshes in Haringey.
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