Source: Daily_Mail
Harry Redknapp: I almost quit Spurs last season when a Dubai club offered me a job
Harry Redknapp has revealed he was ready to walk away from Tottenham last season despite the lure of Champions League football - for the comfort and warmth of the United Arab Emirates.[LNB]I'd miss my horses: Spurs manager Harry Redknapp chose England over Dubai[LNB]The Spurs boss was offered a job by Dubai club Al-Ahli and Redknapp admits he was interested in leaving England for the challenge.[LNB]He has just returned from a warm-weather training camp in Dubai where the players trained at 'The Sevens' Stadium and the Al-Rashid Stadium, home of Al-Ahli FC.[LNB]And Redknapp told the Tottenham website: 'There was an offer and I was intrigued. I love coming here [to Dubai]. It's a great way of life; it's safe, notrouble, you can do things, you can go out in the open. I wasinterested.'[LNB]However, he decided to stay in the cold of England and guided Spurs to a top four slot and now they stand on the verge of a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a first-leg 1-0 win at Milan in the last 16.[LNB]And five-times UAE champions Al-Ahli appointed Leeds and Aston Villa manager David O'Leary instead.[LNB]A nose for trouble: Chelsea's Gael Kakuta [LNB]Redknapp used the time away to assess the fitness of certain key players with Gareth Bale and Jermain Defoe still carrying injuries.[LNB]Bale has been out with a back injury since January while Defoe needed X-rays and scans after suffering ankle damage during the trip.[LNB]Bale looks likely to miss next week's second leg with Milan at White Hart Lane but Defoe is expected to return to training this week.[LNB]Redknapp added: 'Everything's been going okay - we're hoping to get one or two players back to fitness. That's the key for us.[LNB]'We've had such a hectic schedule I just thought it would be good to get the players away for five days, just to break it up.[LNB]'They've trained hard, worked hard and it's been a good break for them.'[LNB]Al-Ahli hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in 2009 when a training ground match against a Chelsea XI ended in a mass brawl and abandonment after 35 minutes.[LNB]At the time a spectator told The News of the World: 'There were people being chased all over the pitch, eyes were being gouged, hair was being pulled out and one of theAl-Alhi players shoved his fingers up the nose of Gael Kakuta. Every player was involved but Chelsea didn't start it.[LNB] Bale in race against time to face Milan after being ruled out of Wolves clash Liverpool set to beat United and Tottenham in race to sign SissokoSpurs back in the market for ?15m Manchester City defender Richards Defoe scare not serious, says Harry after striker breaks down in DubaiO'Hara admits he has no future at Spurs as he eyes summer transferTottenham and Wolves lead tributes to former defender Richards All the latest Tottenham news, features and opinion[LNB][LNB] Explore more:People: Harry Redknapp, David O'Leary, Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe Places: Leeds, Dubai, Milan, United Kingdom
