Redknapp - Pressure is all on City

04 May 2010 18:38

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp insists the pressure is all on Manchester City as they prepare for tomorrow's crucial Barclays Premier League showdown at Eastlands.

Victory for Tottenham will guarantee them a place in the Champions League next season but any other result will take the fight for a top-four spot into the last game of the season. Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour has given City the spending power to rival any club in Europe and so, for Redknapp at least, the pressure is on the Blues.

"There is no pressure on us," declared Redknapp. "At the start of the year we all felt that if anyone was going to break in to the top four then realistically it was going to be Manchester City."

Fourth-placed Spurs are one point ahead of City and even a draw on Wednesday night would give the Londoners the edge going into their final game of the season at relegated Burnley on Sunday.

Tottenham have kept pace in the race for a Champions League spot all season while City, who sacked Mark Hughes in December and brought in Roberto Mancini, were tipped to break into the top four because of their massive cash outlay on new players last summer.

"They have bought some fantastic players, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Craig Bellamy, they had a real go in the summer and improved their squad massively," added Redknapp.

"I think Manchester City will eventually go on and win the championship in three or four years. It is a powerful outfit with the owners they have got now.

"At the start of the season, we would have been delighted with a European place at the start of the year or being in the top seven, so to have a chance of making the Champions League is great for us. To be involved in something at this stage of the season, is a massive game for us. We have been up there all year looking to try and break into the top four at the end of the season.

"If we could finish fourth I would be delighted. This is a good opportunity for this year. We've played some great football this year and if we finish fourth, it would be no more than we deserve.

"I don't get carried away and look at personal achievements. I just get on with my job and do my best. It is the players who will have done it. We will give it our best shot, if we finish fourth great, if not we will try again next year."

Source: PA