Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has stated his desire to lead the club in Europe next season, just weeks after dismissing the Uefa Cup in order to concentrate on his side’s league campaign.
Redknapp fielded a weakened side against Shakhtar Donetsk in the last 32 of this season’s competition at the end of February, as he focused his energies on preparing Spurs for their Carling Cup final with Manchester United, which ended in defeat.
Allied to that was the club’s league status, which at the time of the two-legged tie with Shakhtar saw them hovering precariously above the relegation zone.
However, after elimination from the Uefa Cup Spurs have lost just one of their following seven league games – winning five of those – and are now challenging for seventh spot, which would bring them a place in next season’s rebranded competition the Europa League.
Now that the possibility is there Redknapp is keen to take another shot at Europe with Spurs, who beat Newcastle on Sunday to take them to within two points of their rivals for seventh place, West Ham.
“Now we are so close, I would like to get into Europe again because it would be such a good achievement,” said the Spurs boss.
“When I came here, our only concern was to stay up. The chairman was having sleepless nights worrying that we could get relegated, but I’m sure he’s sleeping all right now. I don’t want anyone to be too disappointed if we don’t finish seventh because we were behind the eight ball when we set out, but we’ve had a terrific run.
“Today was another three points, another clean sheet and another good performance. Newcastle ended up with four forwards on the pitch, and hoping something would drop for (Obafemi) Martins, but overall we were the better team.”
Redknapp turned down the chance to take charge at the troubled North East club 15 months ago.
“If I had made a different call last year I could have been sat a few yards along the touchline, in the away dugout with only 30 points. I wouldn’t have been happy!” he said.
“But I still think they have a big chance of staying up. Hull can’t win a game and Newcastle have three winnable home games coming up, when the fans will lift the roof off the place.”