I expect Tottenham to beat Man Utd in the Europa League final because they have far better players, says Harry Redknapp
I FANCY Tottenham to beat Manchester United in the Europa League final — because they have got a much better squad.
If Spurs do win, I think they might keep Ange Postecoglou . . . and he’d be silly to walk away.
Even though some people think that he will, because he has had enough.
You can see a difference in him but that comes with losing. When you’re winning, you can have a laugh and a joke.
Now you can see an edge to him because he’s being asked questions about his future and he’s getting beat week in, week out.
It’s going to change his persona. That’s for sure. I didn’t really have a bad time like that at Spurs.
But I did elsewhere, and when someone puts a mic under your nose, it’s not easy to keep answering questions. Your personality changes.
So I understand how Ange feels.
But he isn’t going to get a better club than Tottenham if he leaves. I looked at the bench the other day and it’s a very strong group.
Unlike United, I think they have recruited well and whatever people say, they have spent some money.
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Centre-half Cristian Romero is a World Cup winner and Micky van de Ven is a good player.
In midfield they are strong.
I like Dejan Kulusevski while striker Dominic Solanke was a big signing. Spurs are in far better shape going forward than United, miles better.
Next year, with everybody fit, Tottenham could be a top-six club again.
If they won this competition, and could add a couple of good players, they could have a really good season.
Ange just needs to survive to have the chance to work with that team again.
And I think he’d probably survive if he wins the final. But, by resting so many players for league games, I’m not sure he is giving Spurs the best chance of doing so.
I know they’ve had really bad injury problems but it does you no good to keep losing.
You want to win a couple of games before a final. It breeds some confidence.
A commentator I heard said Spurs play different football in Europe.
Man Utd vs Spurs – Europa League final: Kick-off time, TV channel and live stream info for Bilbao clash
Of course they do, as the teams they’re playing are not as good as their Premier League rivals.
If we’re honest, the Europa League is quite a second-rate competition.
I won the Intertoto Cup with West Ham. People called it the Inter Two-Bob Cup.
But these competitions aren’t an awful lot better.
Not so long ago Spurs were playing in the Champions League final, which is about ten grades above.
But a trophy’s a trophy. It would be nice for Spurs to win one after a long wait.
And they are better placed to build on winning than United.
The only way United get the money they need to improve their squad is by winning the final and reaching the Champions League.
If Spurs do win, I think they might keep Ange Postecoglou . . . and he’d be silly to walk away.
Harry Redknapp
But, even then, I’m not sure they would get it right.
United are four or five good players off being anywhere near good enough. They’re that far away.
Unless they recruit fantastically well, you wouldn’t see them being anywhere near the top six again next season.
It’s hard to believe they bossed English football for so long under Sir Alex. I see him at the races.
He wouldn’t be critical in public, but I do wonder what he must think at times when he sees the teams there.
Alex wasn’t a coach. But he was a great judge of a footballer and people.
He signed great players and put them in the right positions. And he brought in personalities he thought could cope with playing for United.
Managers now, including Ruben Amorim, have to rely on the judgment of others.
A bad situation could get even worse
There can be so many people in a recruitment committee that the manager only has one-sixth of the vote.
Only Bruno Fernandes would get in one of Alex’s teams.
Look at the money that United have wasted — like £85.5million on Antony.
And the players they have let go. Scott McTominay is two games away from winning the Serie A title with Napoli.
He was Man United through and through. Those are the sort of players you want around you.
Amorim is probably too honest. He admits United are miles away.
He knows the club must get that money if they are going to bring in the players they need.
And if they don’t have it, a bad situation could get even worse.