Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp has admitted that he is no longer expecting a top four finish for the London club, in what looks to be a disappointing end to the season.
The side drew 1-1 on Saturday at home against struggling Blackpool, which leaves the club in fifth place in the Premier League, with just three games left to play. However, the club sit 6 points adrift from fourth placed Manchester City, and the Tottenham boss has been forced to admit that Champions League football looks unlikely for the club next season.
Only the top four placed clubs in the League are eligible to qualify for the prestigious European tournament, and after an encouraging performance in the competition this year, a campaign which showed touches of brilliance, Redknapp will have to face the fact that his team are unlikely to feature next season.
Getting the points necessary to qualify could be made even harder for the club, as it looks likely that star winger Gareth Bale will be out with an ankle injury picked up in yesterday’s match. The Welsh international was taken off the pitch on a stretcher after a rough challenge from Seasider’s midfielder Charlie Adam took Bale down. He will now have to await the results of a scan, with a possible long term injury a worry for the club.
In any scenario, Bale will almost certainly miss the clubs midweek encounter with Manchester City, who sit just above them in the table. A win at Eastlands would cut the difference between the two clubs to just 3 points, a margin which fans will be hopeful the club can beat. Redknapp will know that the match is a crucial one, and the news that Bale, a key player for Spurs, will miss the match will be another blow to the club.
