Zola on ... Tottenham

A disappointed Gianfranco Zola shares his thoughts on today's 2-1 derby defeat - and updates us on the situation with Calum Davenport.

I thought a draw would have been the correct result. From what we saw, that would have been the right one. There was a moment I was thinking the game was over. Until we scored and when we scored, we looked in control of the game, so I thought we were going to win the game. But that’s football, especially when you play at high levels, one mistake can be very costly.

That was the story. He [Carlton Cole] created that goal from nothing and it a stunning goal, then he made a mistake. That is football. It’s a pity because it would have been a great result for us.

I said before the match that we are very sorry for what happened to him [Calum Davenport]. It’s a terrible story. We imagine what he has been through in this moment and we are close to him. Hopefully, he will get better very quickly. The doctor told me that the situation is stable and he’s okay and, obviously, the situation will be more clear in the next few days. For the moment, the situation is stable.

Now it is important that he is alright. The rest will be decided in the next few days. Now it is important that he is okay and not having problems. It was unbelievable, I couldn’t believe it when we heard about it. You don’t expect these things to happen, especially to the people that you know. We are very, very sorry for him.

[to a question on Dean Ashton] As far as I know he’s still doing his rehabilitation. I’m hoping I can have him in my team because he’s a player who can make a big difference for us.

I hope he will be back playing for us. Until they tell me something different, I am hoping in that way. I spoke to him sometime ago and he came one day also to have training with us. As I said, I’m hopeful.

I rate Tottenham. I said it in the press conference before the game. I think they can challenge the four teams at the top. There is no doubt they have everything in the bag to be challenging at high levels.

It’s a very good team, they are playing well, they are well organised and they have a lot of players who can change the game. Today that was the story. We were standing up against them, then we made two mistakes and they punished us. That tells you a lot about their team.

Carlton played an unbelievable game. In the second half, on his own, and also in the first half, he troubled their whole defence. For me, he played a great game and it was unlucky that he made a mistake. He lost his concentration for a second and it was very costly for us, but that doesn’t change the story for me. He played a great game and, when he plays like that, he plays such an important role for us.

First of all, I told him to stop feeling sorry for himself. Yes, he made a mistake for their first goal, but he created our first goal with something unbelievable. He has to stop that. He made a mistake. He lost his concentration for a second and that will be something good for the future. He will have to learn that if he wants to be playing on a regular basis for the national team, he has to avoid those blackouts. He knows, he’s an intelligent boy, he is determined and ambitious and he will learn from that.

That was the most encouraging thing and that’s what I told the players. We matched them in everything they did. In the first half they started very well and gave us difficulty. They were in control of the game, but we stood our ground and kept our composure and every time they had a chance, we had a chance as well.

In the end, we were creating more chances than them, we got the goal and we were controlling the game. Then we made the two mistakes, but what is important is that we can face anybody and we can play at the same level as teams like Tottenham. We just need to mature. The reason why the Premier League is considered so good around the world is because there are such good players that when you make a mistake, they punish you. That was the case. We will learn from this, trust me, and we will get better and better.

[to a question on James Collins' future] I don’t know what’s going to happen. He’s played very well in the first two games and there is interest in him from another team. I don’t know what’s going to happen with him, honestly. All I am hoping is that we’re going to get some support because Carlton Cole is on his own. We’ll see what happens. Yes, there is an interest for James Collins, but I don’t know what is going to happen.

There might be some needs like that. We will see. We are holding everybody and we are trying get somebody. It might be necessary to do something, but for the moment we are trying to hold everybody.

Calum’s situation is different than Collins’ one. Defensively we are covered. In defence I have eight players I can choose from. In attack, I can only choose from Carlton Cole and myself! Sorry, with no disrespect towards the young players. Obviously, we have two young players who are doing well but they need time. We cannot pretend that they are on the same level as the others.

I’m sorry about the [Lucas Neill] situation, but it’s a situation that I don’t understand and I don’t want to comment on. I knew he was in talks with West Ham, then I found out through the newspapers that he was in talks with Galatasaray, and then I found out he was in talks with Sunderland. I don’t know what is going on. The only thing I know is that he is out and it is not good for him.

I don’t know. For the moment it is not our main priority. The position we’re looking for is not a defender but a striker.

[to a question on transfers] I would like to be very, very close, but honestly I don’t know. The club knows what we need and, to be fair, they are trying everything they can to make this happen. All I can say is that it is a pity because, potentially, this club can do very well. You saw it. If we had just a little bit more than what we have, then this year we might be challenging for the really important positions. I believe and I’m hopeful that the people that own West Ham realise this and they can give us some help.

He [Kieron Dyer] came off the other day because he had just tightness in his muscle. It’s nothing wrong and he should be available for the next league game – not Tuesday.

What can I say? We’re looking for strikers. I don’t think West Ham is the only team interested in Chamakh. There are a few teams interested, obviously. I don’t know what is going to happen. As I said, I am here and, as far as I’m concerned, until I have somebody in my side, I have to make sure that everybody I have in my team is used in the best way. That’s what I need to focus on. On the other thing, I am relying on the club.