Redknapp: My Tottenham team have nothing to fear in Wembley showdown with United

24 February 2009 12:58
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp says his team should not fear Sunday's Carling Cup final against Manchester United[LNB] Harry Redknapp insists Tottenham have nothing to fear against Manchester United in Sunday's Carling Cup final at Wembley.[LNB]Spurs are looking to claim successive League Cup final wins after a 2-1 extra-time triumph over Chelsea last year, but face a United side determined to win every competition they enter.[LNB]United are seven points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League and are still involved in the Champions League and FA Cup and have their sights set on a unique clean sweep.[LNB]And Redknapp admits Tottenham face a tough task if they're going to beat Alex Ferguson's finely-tuned team.[LNB]'It's very difficult,' Redknapp told Tottenham's Hotpsur magazine.[LNB]'You have to be so careful because if you open up too much you can get absolutely ripped to pieces.[LNB]'They have so many fantastic players and can hit you from so many places that if you think you can go and match them up and play an open game then you could be on the end of a difficult 90 minutes.[LNB]'And that goes for anyone who plays them. You respect but don't fear them because we also have good players for them to worry about.[LNB]'First and foremost you have to be aware of how they play in midfield. For instance, Paul Scholes or Michael Carrick will drop deep to pick the ball up off the back four, so you are looking at one of the strikers to get around that because if a midfielder does it, one of their front players will come into the hole he's just come out of.[LNB]'Then, of course, you have a problem that could end up with a 'one against one' at the back. You have to work hard against them and make sure you are set-up to stay in the game. We'll be doing exactly that.[LNB]'You can't just think 'okay, we'll play 4-4-2 and attack them all over the place' because they are possibly the best team in Europe. But we will be getting at them in all departments.[LNB] Tottenham will defend the Carling Cup after last year's Wembley victory over Chelsea[LNB]'You have to make sure you stay in the game and therefore there is no point going out there and starting gung-ho. You need to adopt a good shape, be solid, have a plan and know what you are doing against them.[LNB]'But we won't sit back - we will have a go. We have good attacking players and we hope to cause them problems as well.'[LNB]United (24) and Tottenham (15) have contested 39 domestic cup finals between them, but Sunday will be the first time they will have met in a final itself.[LNB]And Redknapp is relishing the prospect of taking on Ferguson at Wembley.[LNB]'It's a great game to look forward to,' he added. 'Like us, they are a big, big club with great traditions, so to be playing them in a final at Wembley is great.[LNB]'People said to me, "it would be great if it was Derby" but I wanted to play United. It will be a special day.'[LNB] Warrior Woodgate should be fit for Spurs' trip to Wembley [LNB]Hull City 1 Tottenham 2: Blood, sweat and cheers for Woodgate[LNB]TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB] [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail