Redknapp: ‘Tottenham can win title this season’
Published:Harry Redknapp has made the bold claim that his Tottenham Hotspur side will be challenging for the league title this season.
The Spurs boss can back that up with a wager, with odds of 28/1 on the White Hart Lane club to finish the Premier League in first.
Redknapp said: “We could contend for the title. We’ve got the players. We’ve got to aim for it. We could win it, it’s not impossible.
“Some people might look at what we achieved last season and say it was a flash in the pan. We have to prove them wrong and really go for it.”
After finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League, which Spurs are 33/1 to win, Redknapp’s assessment isn’t misguided.
Yet Tottenham have not won the league for 49 years and would have needed to pick up 17 more points to have claimed the trophy last season.
And while they demonstrated title-winning class in beating Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool at home, they also lost to Stoke City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Lane.
However, Redknapp’s talent is in his motivation and such self-belief could invigorate his players.
“Last year we started by saying we wanted to finish in the top four and got there,” the manager said.
“If you don’t aim for things, you’ve got no chance and the status quo will remain – with the big-spending teams winning everything.”
He continued: “Manchester City will be a massive factor in the title race because of the amount of investment they are making – and will continue to make until they win the title.”
A victory over City, who Spurs pipped to fourth, on the opening day of the season (a 6/5 chance) would be a great start to fulfilling Redknapp’s prophecy.
He added: “There are two, three players I want and they will make a big difference.”
Can the Tottenham players rally to Redknapp’s forthright view? Spurs are 15/1 to be the team with the highest points total at the end of the season, if given a +16 handicap.
