Gianfranco Zola has challenged his young stars to go on and prove themselves at the highest level following comments from former West Ham manager Harry Redknapp.
Redknapp, whose Tottenham Hotspur side overcame Zola’s depleted Hammers 1-0 at the weekend, told the press West Ham’s current youngsters are “not in the same class” as the teenagers he managed at Upton Park.
Redknapp was in charge of the Hammers when academy director Tony Carr produced Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand and Jermain Defoe.
Four of whom played in last season’s Champion’s League final.
But current Hammers manager Zola believes that youngsters like Mark Noble, Jack Collison, James Tomkins, Junior Stanislas and Freddie Sears are all capable of ging on to great things – if they are willing to work hard and listen.
Zola said: “I believe that when Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard or Joe Cole were coming through, they were just promising. Then they improved.
“It is just down to my players. If they work hard everyday and keep the right attitude, they can do that.”
Zola – considered by many to be among the top five players to ever grace the Premier League – pointed out that when he was younger many people felt he would never make it at the top level.
But he knew skill alone was never going to be enough.
“I believe that everybody owns their own destiny,” said the Italian.
“When I was started there were a few that said I wouldn't become a player but they didn't know my attitude and my mentality. I believe my players have the same attitude and they can become important players.”
“If they push themselves hard and they believe in what they are doing they are going to get beyond the limits that maybe people are putting on them right now.
“I would like to say that if they achieve something it is down to me but it is not like that.
“I can only show them the direction but after that they have to move on and it is all totally down to them. As far as I am concerned I will always be there showing them the line, but the work is down to them.”
Zola, who started the Spurs game with Stanislas, Tomkins and Noble will once again be relying on his young stars at the weekend.
He takes his team to high flying Aston Villa on Saturday looking to secure the points that will to keep the club in seventh place.
Currently they are on point ahead of Fulham and three ahead of Spurs.
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