Tottenham fullback Benoit Assou-Ekotto admits Harry Redknapp rescued his White Hart Lane career.

After Martin Jol paid Lens £3.5million for him in 2006, Assou-Ekotto edged the experienced Lee-Young Pyo out of the team before a knee injury cut short his campaign and he barely got a look in under Juande Ramos in the 2007-08 season.

"It's hard when you don't play in your country and you don't speak the language," he told the London Evening Standard. "The first season was difficult for me to speak with, or understand, the manager and I played six months and then I was injured.

"When I eventually came back we had a Spanish manager and I didn't have the feeling with him. I came to England because I like the way we play in England. If I wanted to play like a Spanish team I would sign for a Spanish club.

"So I had no feeling with this manager but with Harry [Redknapp] the speech is simple - he says if you are at Spurs it is not because you are s**t so just enjoy being out on the pitch.

"When I compare him with the other manager, he focused on the small details and Harry doesn't care about the small details . . . like going to the hotel before the game . . . because we are not kids. You sleep better in your bed so small stuff like that makes the difference."