Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp insists he will not risk Gareth Bale in
Wednesday's Champions League showdown with AC Milan unless he is
convinced his star winger is 100% fit.
Bale looked set to start the second leg of the last-16 tie at White Hart
Lane after he trained with his team-mates on Tuesday, 48 hours after
making a successful comeback from his six-week back injury lay-off
against Wolves.
The 21-year-old looked sprightly in the 3-3 draw at Molineux, breaking
through the Wolves defence on one occasion to almost grab a fourth goal
that would have earned Spurs a vital victory.
However the Wales winger did not react well to a full training session
with his team-mates, making him a major doubt to face Milan.
Redknapp's team are favourites to progress after they beat the Italian
outfit 1-0 in the first leg, but he would be forgiven for throwing the
youngster into his team given his stunning impact on the club's
Champions League campaign this season.
Yet the Spurs boss is adamant he will not force Bale to start unless he
is fully fit.
"I'm sure Gareth is desperate to play but I don't think he will play if he doesn't feel 100%," Redknapp said.
"Obviously I would love to start him if he is fit. He is a fantastic
player for us but if he's not quite right then I wouldn't want to take a
chance on him. If the boy says he is not ready to start then I wouldn't
push him.
"This morning he felt he wasn't quite ready to start. His back was okay
but he felt a little stiff in his legs so we will wait until tomorrow to
see how he is. At the moment it would be doubtful whether he would be
fit to start."
Should they avoid defeat on Wednesday, Redknapp's team will secure their
passage through to the last eight of the Champions League in what has
been a remarkable debut season in the competition.
The club have registered wins over both Milan clubs, Werder Bremen, FC
Twente and Young Boys Berne whilst treating their fans to a series of
pulsating games at White Hart Lane, where they hold a 100% record in the
competition.
The Londoners are outsiders to clinch the trophy but Redknapp would not
rule his team out of making the final at Wembley in two months' time.
"It's there for someone to win it and we're still in it," he said.
"We have to play Milan first and we know how hard that will be. But I'm
sure all our players want to continue in this competition as I do, and
all the staff. It's a fantastic competition. Once you have played in it
you want more and we want to stay in as long as we can and it's a wide
open competition this year again."
Tottenham may have won the heart of the neutral fan with their brand of
attacking football this season, but doubts remain whether a team that
has conceded 14 goals in the competition will be able to make it all the
way past Europe's elite to Wembley.
Redknapp admits his side do have defensive flaws but has ruled out the
possibility of sending his team out to defend versus Milan.
He said: "We are not coming here to sit on a 1-0 lead. My message to the
players will be "Let's get after them and let's press them" and
hopefully we will be able to go and score again.
"I wouldn't want to put a negative thought in the players' minds at all. It's a game we want to win so let's get after them."
Aside from Bale, influential midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is fit
enough to start having missed out against Wolves on Sunday with a calf
injury.
Ledley King and Younes Kaboul have recovered from their respective groin
and knee injuries.
Vedran Corluka could also start after making a quick recovery from the
ankle sprain he sustained during the 1-0 win at the San Siro.
The Croatian was on the receiving end of a horrific tackle from Matthieu
Flamini, who Redknapp is sure will get a hostile reception.
"They will give him a very warm welcome," Redknapp said.
"I'm sure he expects that coming here as an ex-Arsenal player and having made a bad tackle in the first leg."
Source: DSG