Harry hails Euro stars

Harry Redknapp said he always believed Tottenham were capable of reaching the Champions League after seeing his side (40/1 – Champions League outright) overturn a 3-2 first-leg defeat to beat Young Boys 4-0 and reach the group stages of the competition.

The north London outfit now join rivals Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and SPL champions Rangers in the hat for Thursday’s draw.

Tottenham have been placed in pot three, along with Rangers, and are destined to be paired with either last year’s winners Inter Milan, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, AC Milan or Lyon.

They cannot face another English side yet and as such will be paired with one of the European super powers mentioned above.

However, Tottenham (5/2 – Premier League top-4 finish) won’t mind who they are paired with after finally returning to Europe’s top competition following a 49-year absence.

The group stages alone are worth £11million to each club involved, with last season’s champions Inter Milan eventually being given £40million for winning the competition.

Spurs’ qualification for the first round had been in doubt heading into Wednesday’s game, with Young Boys holding a 3-2 lead from the first leg of the tie.

However, Tottenham quickly drew themselves level on aggregate thanks to Peter Crouch’s header and from then on never looked back, dominating the Swiss side.

Crouch eventually completed his hat-trick while Jermain Defoe got the other as they won 4-0 on the night, 6-3 on aggregate.

Spurs’ entry into the Champions League completes a remarkable turnaround by Redknapp, who took over at White Hart Lane two years ago with the club languishing at the foot of the Premier League.

The former West Ham, Portsmouth and Southampton manager says he always believed he could get Tottenham  into the Champions League and claims this is where the north London club belongs.

“I always felt it was possible. Tottenham were a club which had underachieved for a long time,” Redknapp said.

“The potential was here if we could get the players, and it is not as if I have bought a new team, it was just about instilling a bit of confidence, getting them playing and maybe changing their attitude in some cases. They responded and we have ended up where we have.”

Redknapp went on to give further joy to Tottenham fans by claiming that Defoe (22/1 – Premier League top scorer) might not need surgery on an injured groin muscle after all.

The England striker started the game on Wednesday having revealed earlier in the day that he would need surgery after the match to correct a long-standing injury.

However, Redknapp has played down those fears, claiming Defoe didn’t feel any pain during his time he was on the pitch.

“Now he is saying he might not need it,” he added.

“We are in the hands of the medical people, but he said he did not feel anything tonight.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Harry hails Euro stars

Harry Redknapp said he always believed Tottenham were capable of reaching the Champions League after seeing his side (40/1 – Champions League outright) overturn a 3-2 first-leg defeat to beat Young Boys 4-0 and reach the group stages of the competition.

The north London outfit now join rivals Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and SPL champions Rangers in the hat for Thursday’s draw.

Tottenham have been placed in pot three, along with Rangers, and are destined to be paired with either last year’s winners Inter Milan, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, AC Milan or Lyon.

They cannot face another English side yet and as such will be paired with one of the European super powers mentioned above.

However, Tottenham (5/2 – Premier League top-4 finish) won’t mind who they are paired with after finally returning to Europe’s top competition following a 49-year absence.

The group stages alone are worth £11million to each club involved, with last season’s champions Inter Milan eventually being given £40million for winning the competition.

Spurs’ qualification for the first round had been in doubt heading into Wednesday’s game, with Young Boys holding a 3-2 lead from the first leg of the tie.

However, Tottenham quickly drew themselves level on aggregate thanks to Peter Crouch’s header and from then on never looked back, dominating the Swiss side.

Crouch eventually completed his hat-trick while Jermain Defoe got the other as they won 4-0 on the night, 6-3 on aggregate.

Spurs’ entry into the Champions League completes a remarkable turnaround by Redknapp, who took over at White Hart Lane two years ago with the club languishing at the foot of the Premier League.

The former West Ham, Portsmouth and Southampton manager says he always believed he could get Tottenham  into the Champions League and claims this is where the north London club belongs.

“I always felt it was possible. Tottenham were a club which had underachieved for a long time,” Redknapp said.

“The potential was here if we could get the players, and it is not as if I have bought a new team, it was just about instilling a bit of confidence, getting them playing and maybe changing their attitude in some cases. They responded and we have ended up where we have.”

Redknapp went on to give further joy to Tottenham fans by claiming that Defoe (22/1 – Premier League top scorer) might not need surgery on an injured groin muscle after all.

The England striker started the game on Wednesday having revealed earlier in the day that he would need surgery after the match to correct a long-standing injury.

However, Redknapp has played down those fears, claiming Defoe didn’t feel any pain during his time he was on the pitch.

“Now he is saying he might not need it,” he added.

“We are in the hands of the medical people, but he said he did not feel anything tonight.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Harry hails Euro stars

Harry Redknapp said he always believed Tottenham were capable of reaching the Champions League after seeing his side (40/1 – Champions League outright) overturn a 3-2 first-leg defeat to beat Young Boys 4-0 and reach the group stages of the competition.

The north London outfit now join rivals Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and SPL champions Rangers in the hat for Thursday’s draw.

Tottenham have been placed in pot three, along with Rangers, and are destined to be paired with either last year’s winners Inter Milan, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, AC Milan or Lyon.

They cannot face another English side yet and as such will be paired with one of the European super powers mentioned above.

However, Tottenham (5/2 – Premier League top-4 finish) won’t mind who they are paired with after finally returning to Europe’s top competition following a 49-year absence.

The group stages alone are worth £11million to each club involved, with last season’s champions Inter Milan eventually being given £40million for winning the competition.

Spurs’ qualification for the first round had been in doubt heading into Wednesday’s game, with Young Boys holding a 3-2 lead from the first leg of the tie.

However, Tottenham quickly drew themselves level on aggregate thanks to Peter Crouch’s header and from then on never looked back, dominating the Swiss side.

Crouch eventually completed his hat-trick while Jermain Defoe got the other as they won 4-0 on the night, 6-3 on aggregate.

Spurs’ entry into the Champions League completes a remarkable turnaround by Redknapp, who took over at White Hart Lane two years ago with the club languishing at the foot of the Premier League.

The former West Ham, Portsmouth and Southampton manager says he always believed he could get Tottenham  into the Champions League and claims this is where the north London club belongs.

“I always felt it was possible. Tottenham were a club which had underachieved for a long time,” Redknapp said.

“The potential was here if we could get the players, and it is not as if I have bought a new team, it was just about instilling a bit of confidence, getting them playing and maybe changing their attitude in some cases. They responded and we have ended up where we have.”

Redknapp went on to give further joy to Tottenham fans by claiming that Defoe (22/1 – Premier League top scorer) might not need surgery on an injured groin muscle after all.

The England striker started the game on Wednesday having revealed earlier in the day that he would need surgery after the match to correct a long-standing injury.

However, Redknapp has played down those fears, claiming Defoe didn’t feel any pain during his time he was on the pitch.

“Now he is saying he might not need it,” he added.

“We are in the hands of the medical people, but he said he did not feel anything tonight.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Harry escalates Parker row

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is adamant he did nothing wrong when making a bid for West Ham captain Scott Parker (West Ham 9/2 – Premier League Relegation).

The White Hart Lane chief is trying to strengthen his squad ahead of the Champions League qualifier and former Chelsea and Newcastle midfielder Parker is one of his targets (Tottenham 3/1 – Top 4 Finish).

However, Hammers co-owner David Sullivan is unhappy with Spurs’ pursuit and insisted the the combative ace would not be sold by the east London outfit this summer.

West Ham also released a club statement which read: “The club informed Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy prior to him making the offer that we would not welcome any approach to unsettle the player.”

However, Redknapp insists Spurs have acted in the proper manner and hinted there could be more to it than has been revealed.

He asked rhetorically: “Who made it public that we made an offer?

“You can make an offer for a player if you want to. You can make an offer for anybody.

“I’m sure the chairman must have got some encouragement or he wouldn’t have made an offer. So I’m not sure the full story has been told about that one.

“The chairman wouldn’t have made an offer unless he thought there was a chance that they wanted to do something.”

Sullivan is stuck between a rock and a hard place over Parker who just missed out on making England’s World Cup squad.

At the end of last season Sullivan insisted he would not allow the 29-year-old to leave, despite putting the entire squad – including the England trio of Rob Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole – up for sale.

At the time Sullivan said: “If we get the right bid we will sell any player, apart from Parker.”

He added: “Parker is not for sale. He has several years left on his contract and has intimated on several occasions he wants to stay.”

Meanwhile, former England captain David Beckham has told the Hammers they have no chance of landing him on loan in the middle of the 2010/11 Premier League season (West Ham 7/2 – Top-half Finish).

The LA Galaxy midfielder is closing in on a return following Achilles trouble but with no major tournament next summer, the 35-year-old is likely to have a break following loan spells with AC Milan during the last two Serie A campaigns.

A spokesman for Beckham told PA Sport: “Whilst it’s flattering to hear of interest there has been no contact with, or offer from, West Ham.

“David is happy at the Los Angeles Galaxy and has no interest in leaving, and is looking forward to returning to the team on August 9.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Harry looks at loan option

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp says he is looking to bolster his squad for the new Premier League campaign by adding another goalkeeper to his ranks as he aims to steer the club to their first title since 1961 (Tottenham 33/1 – Premier League outright).

The experienced manager is keen to add to his options between the sticks as Spurs prepare for their first-ever Champions League campaign after they secured a club-record fourth position in the Premier League last season (Spurs 40/1 – Champions League outright).

Redknapp already has Brazilian stopper Heurelho Gomes as well as the fit-again Carlo Cudicini, who returns to the club after missing most of last season due to the injuries he sustained in a motorcycle incident.

However, with youngster David Button expected to be sent out on loan, Redknapp is looking for another alternative to keep goal with Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa thought to be his favoured target.

Pletikosa, who is currently playing for Spartak Moscow in the Russian Premier League, has 81 caps for Croatia and has been a regular in the side since making his debut in 1999 and has been a target for Redknapp for a number of seasons.

“That’s a possibility, we’re looking to take a loan there,” Redknapp told Sky Sports News.

“I’ve got Gomes and I’ve got Carlo, which is good, but the young lad David Button is going out on loan so I feel we need three keepers.

“Carlo is coming back from a bad accident so we don’t want to leave ourselves short. We’ll be looking to bring another keeper in to give us three goalkeepers.”

Redknapp was speaking following his side’s 2-1 friendly victory over New York Red Bulls. The match saw the first appearance for the Red Bulls of former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry who made a scoring debut.

Robbie Keane and Gareth Bale scored Spurs goals to take the victory and Redknapp was understandably delighted with the pair’s performance.

Redknapp added: “He (Keane) needed it, he had a couple of opportunities tonight. He pulled off into some great positions as he always does, he just didn’t manage to finish one.

“But in the end he got there and then Gareth Bale did well for the other goal, so it was all good.”

Keane has been the subject of transfer speculation throughout the summer with interest from a number of clubs, most notably Aston Villa and Celtic, with whom he spent the second half of last season on loan.

After the match Keane said he was pleased with his performance but said “thank you” and walked away when he asked about his future.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Harry excited by Euro vision

Harry Redknapp has told his Tottenham players they may never get a better chance to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League and break into the Champions League (7/10 Tottenham – Top 4 Finish).

The White Hart Lane boss fears rivals Manchester City will dip into the vast fortunes of the Abu Dhabi United Group this summer and return stronger next season if they fail to reach Europe’s elite club competition.

Redknapp said: “They’re going to go out again in the summer and bring in another three or four world-class players, aren’t they, and will keep improving. This is probably the best year that you’ll ever get to have a good chance.”

Tottenham have stolen a march on their rivals to shake up the top order of English football off the back of an impressive run of form (4/6 Tottenham – Premier League W/O Big 4).

Last Wednesday they claimed a first Premier League win over Arsenal in 11 years in a breathless north London derby and on Saturday shook up the race for the title by beating 10-man Chelsea in an equally-enthralling encounter.

They now lead Roberto Mancini’s men by two points in the race for the coveted fourth spot.

A true test of their ability to stay the distance begins next Saturday when they travel to take on title-chasers Manchester United looking for a first win at Old Trafford in the Premier League since 1989.

Tottenham will then face Bolton at home before facing City in the penultimate game of the season. They will wrap up their campaign against relegation-threatened Burnley.

Aston Villa and Liverpool appear to be running out of fixtures to challenge Tottenham and City and Redknapp, while not getting carried away, feels the time is right for his players to take the initiative.

Redknapp said: “It would be great for us, a nice thing to achieve. You get into the knockout phase [of the Champions League] and anything could happen. You could last two minutes as well, of course. But just to get fourth position would be a fantastic achievement.”

In-form winger Gareth Bale has been winning admirers with a string of stand-out performances, including goals against Chelsea and Arsenal, and Redknapp said he never doubted his ability to come through.

Redknapp added: “I never considered selling him: it would have scared me to death to have done that. I knew what we had. It was just a case of him growing up a little bit, getting a bit stronger, and he’s done that.”

ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.