• Tottenham manager hails Champions League qualification
• ‘We picked an attacking team and took a big gamble’
Harry Redknapp acclaimed his Tottenham Hotspur players after they had qualified for the Champions League at Manchester City’s expense and described it as a greater achievement than winning the FA Cup with Portsmouth.
Peter Crouch’s 82nd-minute goal gave Tottenham a 1-0 victory over Manchester City to ensure they finish in the Premier League’s top four only 18 months after Redknapp was appointed with the club propping up the division.
“I think it was important for English football that someone got in outside of the usual four,” Redknapp said. “To be honest, at the start of the season Manchester City were the only team I could possibly see breaking in. But then I couldn’t see who would drop out either. I thought Liverpool were going to be very strong this year, having lost only two games the previous season. And, realistically, the best I could see for us was a place in the top seven.
“It’s great for the club. When I came here I think [the chairman] Daniel Levy was scared they were going to get relegated. That’s why they made the change [sacking Juande Ramos] after eight games; it was early in the season but they had only two points at the time and Daniel was afraid we were going to be in a relegation battle and we were for a lot of that year. It took us a long time to get out of it, so to be where we are now is a great achievement.”
It is the first time they have qualified for the European Cup since 1962 and the victorious players – led by an underpants-wearing dancing David Bentley – celebrated by emptying a large container of iced water over their manager. “It is still dripping off me,” Redknapp said half an hour later. “The players are absolutely delighted and I think we deserved it.
“If you look at the team I picked some people would think I was mad. We picked an attacking team and took a big gamble. We were one point in front of City; we could have played 4-5-1 but, no, we went for it. I said to the team: ‘Listen, we have got fantastic attacking players so let’s have a go.’
“Everybody except perhaps Aston Villa plays one up now when they go away and the teams that have beaten City here – Everton and Man Utd – played one up. But I didn’t want to go that way. I said: ‘This is the same shape of team that beat Arsenal and Chelsea so now let’s do it away from home.’”
The defeat for City led to post-match questions about whether Roberto Mancini, the manager they recruited to take over from Mark Hughes in December, would still be employed by the club next season.
“I’m disappointed because we lost but I also think we had very hard luck in some games and we must be proud for the way we had a good season,” the Italian said. “We will not be playing in the Champions League next season but we tried and we will play in the Europa League instead. We have improved a lot and next year we can improve a lot more again.”
To questions about his job, Mancini added: “I’m confident. I think I will stay here. Why not? I have worked here five months and you don’t start from the roof but the basement. We have worked very well and we are near the roof now. I am not a magician and I don’t have a magic wand. We wanted this [fourth] place and we tried, just like Liverpool and Aston Villa, but this is football.”
Redknapp was asked how it compared to his other managerial achievements: “It’s even better than winning the Cup [in 2008]. The Cup you can win with some lucky draws. You all know that if you can get some nice draws, three or four wins and you are there. But I think this a better achievement.
“I just wanted to finish fourth but the chairman has just asked me who Arsenal are playing on Sunday and I think he wants to see if we can finish above them. I’m just happy with fourth. But I didn’t get here because I’m a mug. I know I’m a good manager and I wouldn’t have lasted 1,100 games if it was just because the chairmen at my clubs liked me. Most of them probably didn’t like me but I had to be doing something right.”
The 63-year-old said he felt invigorated to be the only English manager in the Champions League next season. “I don’t see why I should pack in. I’m on the road at five every morning and I don’t feel old. If I wanted to walk the dogs up a beach every day I would pack it in. But we will have go in the Champions League. What else can you do but have a go.”
Tottenham’s impressive captain, Ledley King, who is troubled by chronic knee problems, said: “At the moment we’re in fourth place. We still have to qualify for the Champions League,” he said. “But that’s why I still work hard to get on the pitch, because of moments like this. I have been waiting for this for a long time; all the players have. We have worked hard all season for this.”
Tottenham HotspurHarry RedknappPremier LeagueDaniel Taylorguardian.co.uk
