Zola hits back at Redknapp

West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola is baffled by Harry Redknapp's assertion that the current crop of Upton Park youngsters are not as good as the players who came through the club's youth team ranks a decade ago.

Redknapp was with the Hammers when Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick were at the club but does not think the likes of Mark Noble, Freddie Sears and James Tomkins are of the same standard.

However, Zola has hit back, saying:"I believe when Rio or Lamps or Joe Cole were coming through they were just promising. Then they improved.

"What I said about my players is that it is just down to them. If they work hard every day and keep the right attitude they can do that.

"Maybe Harry has more experience than me and can see forward more than me. But I believe everyone owns their own destiny.

"When I started playing football there were a few that said I wouldn't become the player I was but they didn't know what my attitude and mentality was.

"I believe that if my players have the attitude they can become important players. If they push themselves hard and believe in what they do they will go beyond the limits that people are putting on them 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, then they have to move on and it is totally down to them.

"I don't know what Harry meant when he said that. As far as I'm concerned I will always be there showing them the line but the work is down to them."

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