If there’s one man who knows about the rising pressures at Tottenham Hotspur, it’s Harry Redknapp.
The veteran manager took the helm at White Hart Lane during an important period for the north London club, at a time when ambition was growing and European competition was more a demand rather than a lofty pipe-dream.
But what does the outspoken, iconic boss think about the Spurs side of today, enduring a rollercoaster ride of a campaign and falling dismally off the pace mere months after storming to Champions League final? Sportsmail had a chat with the 72-year-old to find out.
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‘Yeah, absolutely, that is not going to happen,’ says Redknapp. He’s resolute and confident in his answer, without a second’s hesitation. He’s just been asked whether Spurs will soon part ways with Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine, monitored by both Real Madrid and Manchester United in the summer, appears to be a man on the edge.
With just one win in their last six matches, big questions are being asked of Spurs. A 7-2 demolition by Bayern Munich and a 3-0 loss to Brighton have hardly helped matters.
Redknapp is sympathetic, of sorts. ‘I don’t know if they’ve overachieved. They should be finishing in the top three with that squad, that’s where they should be, there’s no doubt about that in my opinion.
Redknapp places huge emphasis on the players, saying Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola would struggle to manage teams lower down the division
‘But to get to a Champions League final was great for them. It was great to see them reach the final.
‘At the start of the year I really thought Spurs would push Man City and Liverpool a lot, lot closer. Tottenham have got a great team, with Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Son – I thought this could be their year.
‘But it’s been a disappointing start for them for sure and they need to turn it around quickly, but I still think they’ll finish third.’
Several times in the summer Pochettino cut a frustrated figure, making little effort to shield his annoyance at a perceived lack of spending. This, despite the £65million arrival of record signing Tanguy Ndombele.
‘But they’ve got the best stadium in the country, the best training ground. It’s all in place,’ reasons Redknapp.
‘They’ve got a great group of players. It’s some squad, if you go through it, I don’t care what anybody says I don’t think there’s a lot between that squad and Liverpool’s and Man City’s squad, I really don’t.
Sportsmail caught up with Redknapp during the McDonalds Fun Football initiative
Redknapp imparted his wisdom to deliver the 2,000,000th hour of the programme
‘You’re as good as your players. Graham Taylor once said “your manager is never as good as you think he is and he’s never as bad as you think he is, he’s somewhere in between” and that is football management.
‘If you put Pochettino, or you put Pep [Guardiola] or [Jurgen] Klopp and let them go and manage Brighton or manage Norwich or Sheffield United, they’re not gonna go and put them in the top six, it doesn’t work that way.
‘It’s about the players. He [Pochettino] has got the good players but at the moment there’s been hiccups – one of two of them are not playing to their real potential or as good as they can.’
So, where to go from here? Fans, understandably, are getting restless. The team they followed to sunny Madrid a mere four months ago is now being shown up by relegation candidates, currently finding themselves just four points above the drop zone.
‘It’s his [Pochettino’s] job now – it’s not about coaching or getting on the training pitch with systems and that – it’s about getting in their heads and convincing them how good they are again and getting a good spirit and atmosphere around the place and start winning some matches,’ Redknapp offers, in simple terms.
But what of the man himself? Redknapp is still hugely respected in the football world, regularly called upon for his opinions and insight. Is his time on the touchline completely over?
Redknapp reveals Liverpool were the club he always wanted, and backs them for the title
With his familiar chuckle, Redknapp jokes Sportsmail’s reporter would have as much chance as him of being offered a potential Spurs caretaker roll, should Pochettino decide to walk away. ‘I’m a realist, one thing I’ve never done is live in cuckoo land,’ he adds.
It’s been a long career that’s seen Redknapp at the helm of nine different clubs over a 34-year span, including a short spell with the Jordan national team.
Looking back, however, was there a team he always wanted to call his own?
‘If I had one club I’d love to have managed it would have been Liverpool. I loved them.
‘I can see them winning the league this year. Give them the title and give it to them now. I’ve had a big bet and I think the bookmakers should pay me out!’
Harry Redknapp was speaking at a McDonald’s Fun Football Session where he helped deliver the 2,000,000th hour of the Fun Football programme. To sign up for a free session near you head to mcdonalds.co.uk/funfootball