Harry delight as Spurs take on United, Chelsea and Reds in race for Europe

19 March 2009 11:18
Harry Redknapp has admitted he is delighted to be facing the big boys in the Barclays Premier League run-in as Spurs target a late push for Europe. Tottenham would qualify for next season's Europa League if they finish seventh and they are now just five points off West Ham, who currently occupy that spot. The north London side face a daunting finish with games against Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool but Redknapp insists he would not want it any other way. 'No, it's not the first case of sunstroke this year, it's my genuine belief that the end of the season is by far the best time to play the Big Four,' he wrote in his column in The Sun. 'Think about it. We have to play Liverpool at Anfield on the last day of the season, Sunday May 24. It might be the stuff of nightmares for fans but a look at my calendar and I see the Champions League final is three days later. 'Now, if Liverpool are involved in that then there is more than a fair bet Rafa Benitez is going to muck about with his team and throw in a few different names because he has one eye on the Champions League final. 'We have to go to Old Trafford next month and, luckily, the following week are the Champions League semi-finals. Who would bet against United being involved in those games? Not me. 'Alex Ferguson might not fancy risking his very best players to play Spurs when he is so close to such an important game. 'And if he has won his next three or four games before we go up there, what's his priority going to be? You will find teams messing around with their line-ups because of cups and Europe. 'You want to play the top four late in the season. I've seen teams stay up through this. It happened to us at Pompey last year when we played Fulham just before the FA Cup final.'

Source: Daily_Mail