Tottenham Hotspur

Andre Villas-Boas rubbishes statistical approach

By Liam Power, Reporter | 25 February 2013

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas insists that he does not use Prozone and places little value in statistical data when evaluating his side's performances.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has revealed that he places little value in statistical data which monitors player performance.

Tools such as Prozone have become widely used in the modern game, tracking every aspect of a match to break down where a team can improve.

Villas-Boas believes that a greater emphasis should still be placed on judging a player's contribution to the team and keeping a squad focused and happy.

He told The Mirror: "I don't use it because I don't believe [in it]. Normally players are related to tasks and certain tasks might not achieve specific physical data that rewards premium efficiency in terms of a physical performance.

"But if they do the tasks properly it's what you want as a football team. You always have to be very, very careful with statistics. It doesn't mean that we negate them completely, we just don't use them to the extent that people might think.

"For me it's useless, but it depends from coach to coach and it's different, different approaches. The mind and how the player feels is much more important for us, rather than statistical data."

Spurs are back in Premier League action tonight against West Ham United in a London derby.