Ledley King maintains that Tottenham are in a battle against relegation ahead of Monday’s game against West Ham, live on Setanta Sports.
Harry Redknapp’s whirlwind revolution breathed new life into Spurs but despite seven wins in Redknapp's first nine games in charge, last Sunday’s defeat at home to Everton left the North London club out of the relegation zone only on goal difference.
King told the Friday Football Show: “I think the table’s there for all to see. We’ve been on a good run but we still don’t seem to have climbed too many places. That’s the way this season’s going to be. It’s going to be very tight. One defeat and you’re overtaken by a few clubs.”
Succeeding Juande Ramos when Spurs were bottom of the league, Redknapp has nevertheless enthused the team’s playing squad.
King added: “He’s come in and put his arm around certain players and told them what he wants, what he expects from them. The confidence in the players shot up straight away and that’s showed on the pitch. He trusts the players to do the right thing and to look after themselves. The trust is there to prepare ourselves.
“It’s more relaxed – not to take anything away from the last manager who’s done brilliantly for us – having an English manager around has probably made things a lot more relaxed around the place.”
King’s career has been beset by injury problems, with the player’s troublesome knee severely restricting his first-team involvement.
“I’ve had a lot of injury setbacks throughout my career. I think it’s helped to make me a stronger person. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t affect me – I want to play football and it’s been tough away from the training ground. It’s sometimes going to affect your life when you just want to do the thing you love.
“He [Redknapp] has assured me that I still have an important part to play and obviously [Spurs coach] Jamie [Redknapp], who I played with, had similar problems so I think Harry understands and respects the way that we’re working together to get me out on the pitch as much as possible.”