Source: Team_Talk
Redknapp: English bosses hard to beat
Harry Redknapp hopes his Champions League exploits have dispelled the myth English managers are somehow inferior to their foreign counterparts.[LNB] Redknapp has led Tottenham to the brink of the last 16 in their first season back among the continent's elite for almost half a century.[LNB]And while he has played down his role in masterminding the Londoners' ascent to the top of Group A following Tuesday night's victory over holders Inter Milan, he hopes it will encourage Premier League chairman to give other English coaches a chance in future.[LNB]He said: "They see a sexy name or somebody who's been a famous player or famous manager somewhere and they bring them into England, and suddenly they think they could do the job.[LNB]"It doesn't always work.[LNB]"How many of them can go lower down and do well, into smaller clubs?[LNB]"You take over the big clubs and it's fantastic.[LNB]"But go and take over a Blackpool and see what you can do."[LNB]Calling for Ian Holloway to be crowned manager of the year if he keeps the promoted Tangerines in the Premier League, Redknapp added: "Even Jose Mourinho would struggle to do better.[LNB]"I like Mourinho; I think he's fantastic. But you put him in at Blackpool and do you think he could've had 13 points by now?[LNB]"I wouldn't bet on it.[LNB]"He certainly wouldn't have done any better than Ian Holloway's done.[LNB]"What he has achieved there has been incredible.[LNB]"Foreigners aren't any cleverer than we are or any worse.[LNB]"There's loads of lads lower down, who have all worked hard, got their coaching badges, come through the system, been players or whatever - they never get the chance. Give them a chance."[LNB]Tuesday night saw Redknapp outwit Inter boss Rafael Benitez, widely regarded as one of the most tactically astute managers around.[LNB]"People get reputations as being so clever tactically and I think it's a load of c**p," Redknapp said.[LNB]"When Gareth Bale gets the ball and goes, that isn't me telling Gareth to push it round one side and run the other, run 60 yards, cross the ball to (Peter) Crouch or Pav (Roman Pavlyuchenko) to put in the goal."[LNB]He added: "I don't really care if people think you're clever tactically or not. Who is clever tactically?[LNB]"Were they clever tactically the other night, leaving Gareth Bale one on one with their right-back, when he keeps ripping him up?[LNB]"I was surprised, for sure.[LNB]"I think Ian Holloway would have doubled up on him."[LNB]Redknapp admitted that if Spurs do reach the Champions League knock-out stage, he would have to play more defensively away from home after watching them ship nine goals in three matches on their travels.[LNB]But he insisted he would continue to field attacking players.[LNB]Redknapp said: "You've got to be bold enough to play these type of guys, and I would much rather send out a team thinking, 'They're not going to stop us scoring today'.[LNB]"Most coaches would rather win 1-0 then 4-3, but I'm quite happy winning 4-3.[LNB]"We do that and I think people have come and seen a fantastic game."[LNB]Redknapp's stock has never been higher and the 63-year-old is once again having to fend off talk of him succeeding Fabio Capello as England manager in 2012.[LNB]"I'd like to have a go but, in two years' time, who knows?" he said.[LNB]"Now I'm flavour of the month.[LNB]"Who knows in a year's time where I'm going to be?[LNB]"I just worry about tomorrow, really."[LNB]The Spurs boss, who this week avoided a Football Association charge for an attack on referee Mark Clattenburg, added: "Look at the week I've had.[LNB]"Tuesday morning, I'm still on the floor because I'm thinking, 'What, I'm going to be charged suddenly?'."[LNB]And despite currently being on a high, Redknapp knows all that will change if Tottenham continue their miserable record of never having won at the Reebok Stadium when they travel to Bolton on Saturday.[LNB]"I won't be standing in the dressing room after the game - if we get beaten and play badly - going: 'Oh, don't worry lads, we've beaten Inter Milan'," he said.[LNB]"It'll be like the end of the world's come again. I'll be all over them.[LNB]"I'll have the hump, we'll all have a c**p journey home and won't talk. That's how football is."
