Source: Team_Talk
Redknapp: Spurs could cope with exit
Harry Redknapp has sought to take the pressure off his Tottenham side for Tuesday's Champions League clash at Young Boys. [LNB] Spurs are huge favourites to progress to the lucrative first round after landing the easiest possible play-off draw against last season's Swiss runners-up.[LNB]But Tottenham are very much heading into the unknown, having not played a European Cup tie for almost half a century.[LNB]Asked what coming unstuck would mean, Redknapp quipped: "What can it mean? What are we going to do - commit suicide or something? What are we supposed to do?"[LNB]He added: "Listening to everybody, we'll end up hanging ourselves.[LNB]"All you can ever do is your best.[LNB]"If we play at our best, we've got a great chance."[LNB]With £10million guaranteed to the winners of this tie, there is more at stake in the next week than Redknapp was prepared to admit.[LNB]"Nobody expected us to get here in the first place last year," said the Spurs boss, whose side last season became the first team from outside the so-called 'big four' to earn a place in the Champions League qualifiers for five years.[LNB]Redknapp added: "We suddenly went from where we were to finishing fourth in the Premier League.[LNB]"People's expectations get very high but I don't think about not qualifying.[LNB]"It'll be a difficult game, but we're a good team and I've got great belief in the team."[LNB]As well as being unknown territory for Spurs, the Champions League is also new for Redknapp, who will be managing in the competition for the first time in his career.[LNB]It is a far cry from a 9-0 defeat in his first match in caretaker charge of Bournemouth almost 28 years ago.[LNB]"The eighth goal was offside," he joked.[LNB]"It's all history, isn't it? I don't look back - I keep looking forward."[LNB]Admitting it was special to have finally made it to Europe's top table, he added: "It's the players, isn't it?[LNB]"I'm just part of the team and it's what they do. They go out and play on Saturday.[LNB]"The way we play the game, I love being involved with this team."[LNB]Also alien to Spurs will be Young Boys' artificial pitch but Redknapp does not see a problem with the surface.[LNB]"It looks fine, good surface, very good," he said.[LNB]"Much better than QPR's used to be many years ago, that's for sure."[LNB]However, Redknapp is taking no chances with the notoriously-fragile knees of captain Ledley King, who has been left at home.[LNB]That means the side is likely to be led out by King's centre-back partner Michael Dawson, who will make his Champions League debut less than a week after his England bow.[LNB]Dawson said: "It's been a special week for me. To get my England debut was a dream. It's been a long wait but I loved it.[LNB]"It's been a fantastic week and hopefully a week tomorrow night we'll have achieved getting into the group stages."[LNB]The 26-year-old is desperate to test himself against the likes of Lionel Messi in the group stage.[LNB]"There's so many games you watch and to play against the best players in the world - Messi and players like that - would be fantastic and a great test for us," said Dawson, who insisted Young Boys were not to be taken lightly.[LNB]"Let's hope we can do it in the group stages."[LNB]Meanwhile, Redknapp confirmed Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa was training with the club and would join on loan from Spartak Moscow if he proved his fitness following a recent knee problem.[LNB]"He's with us for a week or so, just to see how he is," Redknapp said.[LNB]"If he's fine and he's okay, he'll join us.[LNB]"He'll give us good competition and good cover in that position."[LNB]Spurs have also announced that international specialist bank and asset management firm Investec would be their shirt sponsors for the Champions League and domestic cup competitions for the next two years.[LNB]It is an unusual deal, with Autonomy remaining the club's shirt sponsor in the Barclays Premier League.
