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'I owe Tottenham and I owe the chairman' - Harry Redknapp plays down links to England job
The Spurs manager spoke of his delight at the way he has been treated by the club's owners and fans following his side's 5-0 demolition of Newcastle United at White Hart Lane
Feb 11, 2012 11:52:00 PM
By Jay Jaffa at White Hart Lane
Getty Images
Harry Redknapp has played down links with the England job after Tottenham's 5-0 win over Newcastle United.
The Spurs manager is the favourite to replace Fabio Capello after the Italian resigned following a disagreement with the FA over their decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy.
But Redknapp insists there has been no contact over the Three Lions vacancy and has praised Tottenham and chairman Daniel Levy again for their help during his court case.
He said: “Nothing has happened with that [England]. No-one's spoken to me or Daniel about the job so I've just got to focus on what I'm doing here. It wouldn't be fair to Tottenham, the players, the crowd, the people that own the club.
“Daniel gave me the job, he brought me here while that court case was hanging over me. He looked at the case and had great faith that there shouldn't be a case. I owe him, I owe the club.
“We've been good for each other, I've been good for them as well. At the moment I can't take my focus off of Tottenham – it wouldn't be fair to them.”
When asked if it would be hard to leave a club he has spent three happy years at, Redknapp added: “I've loved my time, it couldn't have gone better for me. From the time I've walked in here, I can't honestly say I've had any downside.
“I've loved every minute of it. I've been lucky to have good players.
“I love the way we play, the crowd have been great to me, the chairman has been as good as gold. It couldn't be better for me.
“They've [the fans] been brilliant with me. They were great at the Wigan game, the last home game and they were great again today. I appreciate their support, I really do.”
Louis Saha scored twice on his full debut in Tottenham's win over Newcastle, while Emmanuel Adebayor played a part in all five of his side's goals.
“We felt it would be a tough game tonight but we started well, so bright,” Redknapp said.
“Adebayor and Saha were unplayable in that early period and it set us up, really. We got the early goals and there was no danger after that.
“Saha in his first game - I took the chance of playing him today. I always thought he was a top player, he has fantastic ability. If he can stay fit, you've got a real player on your hands for nothing.
“It's just a case of keeping him fit because he's a fantastic talent in my opinion.”
Speaking more generally about his squad, Redknapp added: “They're good lads to work with, I look forward to working with them every day.
“I've been at clubs when you come to work and you don't really want to see a few of them.
“But there's not too many here now – in fact there's none that I don't look forward to seeing. They're a great group of lads.”
The win pushed Spurs 10 points clear of Arsenal in fourth place and leaves them five points off the top spot, albeit with Manchester City still to play.
Redknapp said: “I just keep looking at the gap between us and Arsenal and Chelsea.
“I'd be lying if I said otherwise. I look at the top as well but we really want Champions League football – that's the key.
“Arsenal closed the gap before the game to seven points but we've put it back to 10 again. We've got another three on Chelsea today which is important to us, three on Liverpool.
“If we can close on the front two, that will be fantastic but I really want to make sure we get a Champions League place. If we can do that it'll be fantastic for us.
In light of the FA's decision to take the England captaincy away from Terry, when asked what he would do if his chairman removed his captain from his position, Redknapp added: “If they did it to me at this football club, I wouldn't accept it, no.
“Unless it was through gross misconduct and we agreed on the decision it's not a problem, is it?
“If it was gross misconduct and Daniel felt it was the right thing. He would discuss it with me anyway.”
| Bet: | Returns: | Norway £32.00 | Draw £32.50 | England £21.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Norway £35.00 | Draw £32.50 | England £21.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Norway £34.00 | Draw £33.00 | England £21.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Norway £35.00 | Draw £33.00 | England £21.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Norway £30.50 | Draw £32.00 | England £21.80 |
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The Spurs manager is the favourite to replace Fabio Capello after the Italian resigned following a disagreement with the FA over their decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy.
But Redknapp insists there has been no contact over the Three Lions vacancy and has praised Tottenham and chairman Daniel Levy again for their help during his court case.
He said: “Nothing has happened with that [England]. No-one's spoken to me or Daniel about the job so I've just got to focus on what I'm doing here. It wouldn't be fair to Tottenham, the players, the crowd, the people that own the club.
“Daniel gave me the job, he brought me here while that court case was hanging over me. He looked at the case and had great faith that there shouldn't be a case. I owe him, I owe the club.
“We've been good for each other, I've been good for them as well. At the moment I can't take my focus off of Tottenham – it wouldn't be fair to them.”
When asked if it would be hard to leave a club he has spent three happy years at, Redknapp added: “I've loved my time, it couldn't have gone better for me. From the time I've walked in here, I can't honestly say I've had any downside.
“I've loved every minute of it. I've been lucky to have good players.
“I love the way we play, the crowd have been great to me, the chairman has been as good as gold. It couldn't be better for me.
“They've [the fans] been brilliant with me. They were great at the Wigan game, the last home game and they were great again today. I appreciate their support, I really do.”
Louis Saha scored twice on his full debut in Tottenham's win over Newcastle, while Emmanuel Adebayor played a part in all five of his side's goals.
“We felt it would be a tough game tonight but we started well, so bright,” Redknapp said.
“Adebayor and Saha were unplayable in that early period and it set us up, really. We got the early goals and there was no danger after that.
“Saha in his first game - I took the chance of playing him today. I always thought he was a top player, he has fantastic ability. If he can stay fit, you've got a real player on your hands for nothing.
“It's just a case of keeping him fit because he's a fantastic talent in my opinion.”
Speaking more generally about his squad, Redknapp added: “They're good lads to work with, I look forward to working with them every day.
“I've been at clubs when you come to work and you don't really want to see a few of them.
“But there's not too many here now – in fact there's none that I don't look forward to seeing. They're a great group of lads.”
The win pushed Spurs 10 points clear of Arsenal in fourth place and leaves them five points off the top spot, albeit with Manchester City still to play.
Redknapp said: “I just keep looking at the gap between us and Arsenal and Chelsea.
“I'd be lying if I said otherwise. I look at the top as well but we really want Champions League football – that's the key.
“Arsenal closed the gap before the game to seven points but we've put it back to 10 again. We've got another three on Chelsea today which is important to us, three on Liverpool.
“If we can close on the front two, that will be fantastic but I really want to make sure we get a Champions League place. If we can do that it'll be fantastic for us.
In light of the FA's decision to take the England captaincy away from Terry, when asked what he would do if his chairman removed his captain from his position, Redknapp added: “If they did it to me at this football club, I wouldn't accept it, no.
“Unless it was through gross misconduct and we agreed on the decision it's not a problem, is it?
“If it was gross misconduct and Daniel felt it was the right thing. He would discuss it with me anyway.”
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