André Villas-Boas admits Luka Modrić wants to leave Tottenham

Andre Villas-Boas

The new Tottenham Hotspur manager André Villas-Boas is determined to learn from previous mistakes in his new role, but admits he is likely to have to do so without Luka Modrić.

Croatian international Modrić is reportedly on the radar of several top clubs including Real Madrid and Villas-Boas’s former employers Chelsea, and having expressed his desire to leave White Hart Lane the 26-year-old is expected to have played his last game for the club.

“The interest that we have from various different clubs shows the importance of the player and what he's done for Tottenham,” said Villas-Boas as he was introduced to the media for the first time as Spurs boss.

“It's fair to say that the club respects Luka's ambitions and his willingness to move on and he respects the fact that he's an important player for the club and can help us move forward.

“Ongoing discussions will continue with these clubs until we reach an agreement which is acceptable for each party.”

Talk of the Croatian overshadowed the unveiling of Villas-Boas, who has made a quick return to English football after his nine-month stay at Chelsea was ended in March.

The Portuguese insists that his work as Blues boss set the club up for their eventual FA Cup and Champions League successes in May, and sees the time spent in west London as key to potential future successes in the north of the capital.

“You always learn from experience,” said the 34-year-old.

“From my understanding the Chelsea experience was maybe not so gratifying in terms of success but very gratifying professionally for me. I learned a couple of things that maybe I've done wrong and I've learned in a club you have to trust the right people at the right time."

Villas-Boas has appointed the former Spurs midfielder Steffen Freund as his assistant head coach, and insists that his move to Tottenham isn’t about personal gain but instead about restoring the club to trophy-winning highs.

“It is not a mission of restoring my reputation, it's a mission to put Tottenham back on track with titles,” he said. “Since [the Carling Cup in] 2008 we haven't won anything.

“It is right we take the club forward, mixing it with titles and with success. Hopefully I can bring them to this football club. It is a massive opportunity for me and I am extremely pleased to be given that opportunity.

"I am pleased to come to a club with such high ambitions for the future and I hope to repay the trust of the chairman with success.

"Since I stopped there has been a couple of discussions with other clubs, a couple of them have even been made public, but I was always willing to wait for the right opportunity at the right time.

"After Chelsea it was important to be surrounded by the right commitment and the right people and I think I have found that."

Mark Jones – follow me on twitter

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