Source: Daily_Mail
Harry shuns bodyguards and insists he'll walk tall on return to Pompey
Harry Redknapp has launched an impassioned defence of his record during two spells with Portsmouth, insisting that any fans who abuse him when he returns with Tottenham on Saturday 'need their heads looking at'. [LNB]Redknapp described reports he will employ bodyguards on his return as 'absolute rubbish' and insists he will walk out at Fratton Park 'with his head held high'. [LNB] Cup of cheer: Harry Redknapp is proud of his Pompey record[LNB]Portsmouth fans are expected to give Redknapp an angry reception when he returns for the first time since leaving for White Hart Lane 12 months ago. But Redknapp is adamant they will not get to him. [LNB]He said: 'If people are stupid enough to shout abuse then they need their heads looking at.' [LNB]Asked whether he would be taking extra security with him on Saturday, Redknapp told talkSPORT: 'Absolute rubbish. Am I bothered about some nutter running up to me? No. [LNB]'If I'd have been at Portsmouth and been the worst manager that they'd ever seen, got them relegated and turned out c**p football teams then they should have the hump. But I didn't. [LNB]'They were the bottom of the Championship when I went there and we became a top seven, top eight Premier League team, won the FA Cup and they saw players there who they will probably never see the likes of again. Lassana Diarra, the best player at Real Madrid alongside Ronaldo, Sulley Muntari at Inter Milan: look at the quality of players they saw at that club.' [LNB] South coasting: Lassana Diarra impressed at Portsmouth before moving to Real Madrid[LNB]Redknapp added: 'I don't want security. If I can't stand up there on the touchline and be proud of what I achieved . . . I'm going to walk there with my head held high, as I have plenty of cause to be proud of what I achieved there.' [LNB]Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie has called on fans to lay off his good friend Redknapp, although he admitted his appeal is likely to fall on deaf ears. [LNB]Storrie said: 'Obviously we all know what reaction he will probably get. I just hope the fans will be fair and realise the success that Harry brought to the club. The highest league position in post-war, seven years in the Premier League, winning the FA Cup - you can't have any more than that.' [LNB]Redknapp has rejected speculation of a move for Muntari, following reports that the Ghana midfielder could return to this country. [LNB]Redknapp has been linked with a move for his former Pompey star Sulley Muntari, now at Inter Milan[LNB]'I like Sulley, he was a terrific player for me at Portsmouth. But I've not spoken to Jose Mourinho about him.'[LNB]'Meanwhile, Redknapp has empathised with Sir Alex Ferguson for losing his cool with referee Alan Wiley, admitting he has also said things he later regretted in the heat of the moment. [LNB]'It's difficult after a game, we are all so heated and uptight about everything,' said the Spurs boss. 'At times, after a game, when you've put everything into it and you've had a bad decision go against you, it's easy to lose your head. [LNB]'But really the best way is to go away and think about it all and maybe in the cold light of day have a chat with the referee at a later date. [LNB]'Certainly you could give it 45 or 60 minutes after a game rather than rushing in and making rash statements.'[LNB] Redknapp also claimed it was unreasonable to expect referees to match the fitness standards of today's top-flight players. [LNB]He added: 'They can't possibly keep up with it. It's impossible for them to sprint from one end of the pitch to the other. But what's the answer? Two referees? But then you're messing around with the game again. [LNB]'It's very to hard to get super-fit athletes to be referees as well and it's very hard to get someone who can sprint around the pitch for 90 minutes at the kind of pace players play at.' [LNB] Pompey boo-boys should lay off Harry and remember good times, says StorriePavlyuchenko keen to leave Spurs in AC Milan swap with Klaas-Jan HuntelaarWoodgate hands Harry welcome Spurs boost in behind closed doors returnAvram Pompey return held up as Home Office refuse to Grant quick work permit PORTSMOUTH FC
