Understanding Football

Harry Redknapp talks to the LMA about his first experience of Champions League football, gives an insight into identifying transfer targets, plus reveals the secret to good football management.

This season, many would say you surpassed expectations by leading Spurs to the Champions League quarter-finals. Would you agree?

Well I wanted to get past the qualifying game against Young Boys of Bern because making the group stage was so important. But we found ourselves 3-0 down after 30 minutes and I feared the worst. Thankfully, we pulled ourselves out of it, got a couple of goals back which were all important, and in the second leg did enough to make it into the group stages.

We ended up with a very difficult group which included Inter Milan, Werder Bremen and FC Twente - all very strong teams - and I thought if we could get through this group it would be fantastic. To actually win the mini-league was a fantastic achievement, and our reward was the AC Milan game, in which we excelled against another top team. The Real Madrid quarter-final was maybe a disappointment in terms of not playing to our potential, but the whole ride was truly amazing and has really put this club back on the map.

In what ways did you have to adjust your managerial approach in the Champions League?

It is a different challenge. The first game I went away with a gung ho attitude thinking that we were going to smash Young Boys of Bern. That resulting match quickly taught me that I had to adjust tactically because you are playing against the top teams with the best coaches. Even at White Hart Lane we had big problems coping with AC Milan and the way that they played. But the secret is making sure you know what you’re doing tactically. It’s been a fantastic challenge and something that I have really enjoyed this year.

How much pride do you feel at being the first Englishman to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League?

It’s lovely. I’ve been lucky that I’ve had a good team and the lads at Tottenham have done great for me. Let’s hope there are plenty of English managers to follow in the same vein as me. I’m a big fan of seeing home grown managers getting a chance to operate at the top level because I think we’ve got some fantastic talent in this country if we get the chance to show it.

When you played Inter Milan in Italy, Gareth Bale announced himself on the international scene. How much has he improved since you have been at Spurs, and how good can he become?

His improvement is unbelievable really. It is confidence that has made a huge difference for him, and improving that has been a big task for the management staff. At one point he had played 26 times and had never been on a winning Spurs team. Suddenly that changed and his game went to another level. He is just an amazing player and has everything. He is 6ft 2”, he’s got pace, he can dribble, he can shoot, he can head and he can run all day. He’s the complete all-round footballer.

In terms of incoming transfers how closely do you work with the chairman in identifying transfer targets?

I work with the chairman, but Daniel (Levy) does all the deals. For instance, I didn’t make one phone call on transfer deadline day during the January transfer window. I gave him the names of some players I liked but I didn’t really see anything happening that day.

But looking ahead we’re not desperate and are only looking for somebody better than what we have. The fact is, unless you want to spend £170,000 a week to get someone like Torres, you aren’t going to get much better than what we have here anyway.

Is there a secret to good football management?

Only in the sense that it’s not rocket science and it shouldn’t be treated as such. A lot of it is just common sense and understanding football. Look at Liverpool; people were saying ‘Can Kenny [Dalglish] do it, as the game has changed so much?’

Well, I thought we were still playing the same sport with 11 men and a round ball? Are players passing and moving? I think they still are. Did they do that back in Kenny’s day? I think so, yes! I really don’t see any difference.

People think the game has suddenly become very clever, but it’s just about understanding football, how to get the best out of team members, putting them in their best positions, and playing to their strengths. It’s really not complicated, it’s made a lot harder than what it is. It’s a simple game made difficult by some.