Harry Redknapp has launched a robust defence of his management style and hit out at claims his failure to rotate has led to exhaustion within Tottenham's faltering squad.
Tottenham were on the verge of moving 13 points clear of Arsenal in February but a run of one win in nine games means the Londoners could be sixth in the Barclays Premier League by the time they take on Blackburn at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka claimed this week Redknapp's reluctance to rotate - he made the fewest changes of any top-flight manager over the festive period - has caused the club's key players to tire, but the manager insisted: I am very happy with what I have done."
Redknapp has clearly been riled by the claims of the right-back, who was loaned to Bayer Leverkusen in January, and insists he has no regrets over his reluctance to rotate this term.
"The players have probably played on average 30 games this year and I don't think that is a lot. I don't ever remember Bobby Moore getting rotated, nor Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Dave Mackay or Alan Mullery. They played ankle deep in mud every week.
"It's my decision. It's difficult to rotate a team. It's okay to rotate if you have enough players to do it but I have not been in that position due to injuries.
"Frank Lampard played 60 games in a season. I don't see him talking about being rotated. Ashley Cole has been playing 47, 48 games a year. Wayne Rooney has played well in to the 40s. They are not being rotated.
"If people keep telling players they're tired, they'll believe it. It's a load of nonsense. It's an excuse."
Redknapp has also been irritated by claims he had a bust-up with striker Emmanuel Adebayor this week.
"Whoever said that is telling lies. It is an absolute lie," he said. "I have not had one cross word with Adebayor since he came here. He has never been a minute's problem to me. When we took him here from Man City people said he's aggro or whatever but he is not a problem. The whole thing is fabricated."
Source: PA
