06 SoccerWeekjune 04 – June 10, 2009<strong>in</strong>terviewHarry Redknapp chats <strong>to</strong> Thapelo Moloan<strong>to</strong>a about imported footballers, the futureof the English national team and his ambitions with TottenhamRedknappragesat foreign<strong>in</strong>vasionThe Spurs boss is concerned that players born outside of England could be called up for the Three LionsRedknapp was tipped <strong>to</strong> take the Englishpost. Capello got the job <strong>in</strong>stead❝We could end upwith an Englandteam made offoreigners andI don’t want<strong>to</strong> see that❞Redknapp dreads the day that players like Manuel Almunia, who was born <strong>in</strong>Spa<strong>in</strong>, receive England capsHarry Redknapp loves hiscountry and he claims<strong>to</strong> have noth<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>stforeigners, but his relationshipwith England managerFabio Capello has never beengreat, especially s<strong>in</strong>ce the Italiancalled up <strong>in</strong>jury-prone Tottenhamcapta<strong>in</strong> Ledley K<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> theEngland squad back <strong>in</strong> March.Perhaps still privately smart<strong>in</strong>g afterhe was overlooked for the role oflead<strong>in</strong>g his country, Tottenham managerRedknapp lamented Capello’sdecision <strong>to</strong> ignore his advice and selectK<strong>in</strong>g for England’s double-headerwith Slovakia and Ukra<strong>in</strong>e.Redknapp ultimately won thatbattle as K<strong>in</strong>g limped back <strong>to</strong> WhiteHart Lane without kick<strong>in</strong>g a ball.However, any subject <strong>to</strong> do with thenational team as Capello’s men bid<strong>to</strong> qualify for the World Cup f<strong>in</strong>als <strong>in</strong>South Africa next year, still gets theSpurs boss talk<strong>in</strong>g.This time, it’s talk about a certa<strong>in</strong>Spaniard that irritates ‘Arry. Capello’scourt<strong>in</strong>g of Spanish goalkeeperManuel Almunia for a possible place<strong>in</strong> the England team has <strong>to</strong>uched anerve with Redknapp.Arsenal goalkeeper Almunia enjoyeda fantastic season beh<strong>in</strong>d a defencethat offered him very little protection.Almunia takes a keen <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong>war his<strong>to</strong>ry but if he keeps on catch<strong>in</strong>gCapello’s eye, he will create aconflict of his own. Accord<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> Redknapp,the Pamplona-born goalkeeper,who qualifies for an English passportthis summer, has no place <strong>in</strong> anEngland squad simply because hewas not born <strong>in</strong> that country.“I can’t see it. The rules state if aplayer plays for five years <strong>in</strong> a particularcountry, they can play for thenational team. But I don’t see howthey should be able <strong>to</strong>,” Redknapp<strong>in</strong>sisted. “That is my view, noth<strong>in</strong>gcan change that. It is difficult enoughfor home-grown players <strong>to</strong> make it <strong>in</strong>the Premier League [<strong>in</strong> England] especiallywith the amount of overseasplayers there are.”Mikel Arteta, the Spaniard whodictated the midfield for Ever<strong>to</strong>n beforehis season was cut short by <strong>in</strong>jury,is another player who is likely<strong>to</strong> qualify <strong>to</strong> play for England <strong>in</strong> duecourse. Redknapp, however, stressesthe importance of giv<strong>in</strong>g youngEnglish players the chance <strong>to</strong> sh<strong>in</strong>eas opposed <strong>to</strong> hand<strong>in</strong>g Three Lionscaps <strong>to</strong> flamboyant foreigners.“We could end up with an Englandteam made of foreigners and I don’twant <strong>to</strong> see that,” Redknapp said. “Ican’t see how it should work and Ido not understand it. If you are goodenough <strong>to</strong> play for your own country,whether it is Germany, Spa<strong>in</strong> orwhatever, then you should play forthem.“I don’t th<strong>in</strong>k foreigners shouldqualify, not <strong>in</strong> my op<strong>in</strong>ion.”Redknapp presents his argumentwith typical authority. It is this sameair of conviction that has shifteddown <strong>to</strong> his Tottenham players andenabled them <strong>to</strong> forget their earlyseason relegation problems and f<strong>in</strong>ishthe season just one place short ofEuropean qualification.When the 62-year-old left Portsmouth<strong>to</strong> start his rescue operationat Spurs last September, few couldhave envisaged such an impressiveturnaround.“We had two po<strong>in</strong>ts from eightgames when I <strong>to</strong>ok over,” he constantlylikes <strong>to</strong> rem<strong>in</strong>d people. To befair <strong>to</strong> him, the upturn <strong>in</strong> fortunes underl<strong>in</strong>eshis ability <strong>to</strong> get the best ou<strong>to</strong>f his players.Another season <strong>in</strong> the PremierLeague was swiftly secured and Redknappis already plann<strong>in</strong>g for nextseason and an assault on break<strong>in</strong>gthe stranglehold that ManchesterUnited, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenalcurrently have over domesticmatters <strong>in</strong> England.“I am just look<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> add one ortwo more <strong>in</strong> the summer <strong>to</strong> give usa real squad that can push on nextyear - we are capable,” Redknapp revealed.“Gett<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> the <strong>to</strong>p four isdifficult, they are so strong, but wehave <strong>to</strong> aim <strong>to</strong> be there if we can. Tottenhamhave great resources andthere’s no reason why we can’t do i<strong>to</strong>ne day.“So let’s see what we can do nextyear and if we can do it that wouldbe fantastic.”The signs look promis<strong>in</strong>g. Redknapp’sresurgent Spurs preventedManchester United from scor<strong>in</strong>gbefore los<strong>in</strong>g the League Cup F<strong>in</strong>alon penalties and then had the audacity<strong>to</strong> take a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford,<strong>in</strong> an enthrall<strong>in</strong>g league clash<strong>in</strong> April, before the reign<strong>in</strong>g championsswarmed back <strong>to</strong> w<strong>in</strong> 5-2.Referee Howard Webb awardedUnited a contentious penalty <strong>in</strong>that match and once Cristiano Ron-aldo smashed home from 12-yards,the tide had turned. Redknapp wasfum<strong>in</strong>g after the f<strong>in</strong>al whistle, claim<strong>in</strong>gWebb had ru<strong>in</strong>ed Tottenham’schances of a first vic<strong>to</strong>ry at Old Trafford<strong>in</strong> 20 years, but with time hascome some reflection.“I got a message from someonewho was with Webb at a d<strong>in</strong>ner andhe <strong>to</strong>ld him he would r<strong>in</strong>g me andadmit it was a mistake,” Redknappsaid. “He did not [award the penalty]on purpose. It was disappo<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>gbecause we played so well [aga<strong>in</strong>stManchester United] and it was a badmistake. But now it is his<strong>to</strong>ry and wemove on.”Tottenham are mov<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>in</strong> moreways than one. If Redknapp reallywants <strong>to</strong> push the Premier League’selite next season, he admits heneeds <strong>to</strong> re<strong>in</strong>force his squad. But afterspend<strong>in</strong>g £47-million <strong>in</strong> the lastJanuary transfer w<strong>in</strong>dow, Redknapphas warned the Tottenham fans, and<strong>in</strong>deed some of his players, that hemay have <strong>to</strong> sell before he can buy.“I will sit down with the chairmanbut we have not got a bot<strong>to</strong>mlesspit of money. We are look<strong>in</strong>g a<strong>to</strong>ne or two people who could changeit around so we will see,” Redknapp<strong>in</strong>sists.“I am not go<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> splash the cash.We can’t spend massive amounts ofmoney but we have players <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>dwho could br<strong>in</strong>g someth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> theteam. There are one or two playersbut we may have <strong>to</strong> let one or twoleave so we can br<strong>in</strong>g some more <strong>in</strong>.We have some good players here sowe will look at it.”Redknapp is no stranger <strong>to</strong> upsett<strong>in</strong>gthe elite. He once knocked ManchesterUnited out of the FA Cupwhen he managed lowly south coastclub Bournemouth and he <strong>to</strong>ok unfanciedPortsmouth <strong>to</strong> FA Cup glorylast year.His revolution began by banish<strong>in</strong>gthe gloom Tottenham endured underJuande Ramos, but he won’t sail off<strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> the sunset yet.After all, the much-malignedSpaniard managed someth<strong>in</strong>g Redknapphas yet <strong>to</strong> achieve - he guidedthe London club <strong>to</strong> a trophy <strong>in</strong> 2008,albeit the League Cup.
SoccerWeekjune 04 – june 10, 200907
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