Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has labelled Gary Neville an “absolute disgrace” following the former Manchester United defender’s comments about Spurs being “pathetic” before Mauricio Pochettino took charge in the summer of 2014.
Redknapp managed Tottenham for three-and-half years. He was sacked in the summer of 2012 and replaced by Andre Villas-Boas. Two years later, Pochettino took over from Tim Sherwood.
During Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football show, Neville defended Pochettino’s record at Spurs; the Argentinian has received some criticism for failing to win a trophy since arriving at the club, but some onlookers have put Tottenham’s failings down to the board rather than Pochettino.
Neville is firmly on Pochettino’s side. He claimed Spurs were “spineless” and “pathetic” in the 30 years before the current manager arrived. But Redknapp took issue with Neville’s words.
“I thought Gary’s comments were an absolute disgrace,” Redknapp told talkSPORT on Wednesday. “I can only comment on the three-and-a-half years I managed the club, and we weren’t gutless, we weren’t spineless, we weren’t pathetic, flaky or soft.
“It’s a disgrace to label people like Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Ledley King, Rafa van der Vaart, William Gallas, it’s a disgrace to talk about players saying they’re spineless and gutless.
“I was so disappointed and so upset by his comments. He was totally out of order. And listen, we can all come back – when he managed Valencia they were the worst Valencia team probably not just in the last 30 years but in their history.
“I heard him about two years ago have a pop about a couple of players, saying Tottenham had got rid of some bad apples and mentioned Michael Dawson – he was one of the best pros I’ve come across in my life. I think he needs to do his homework before he comes out and makes comments like that and talks about people in that tone.
“Listen, I’ve got the raving hump, I really wouldn’t want to speak to him to be honest. I’ve got the raving needle with him, I think he’s totally out of order, I really do. My son’s a pundit, so I know people have a right to their opinions and I don’t dispute that, but his opinion in this case is totally wrong, totally out of order.
“The previous 26 years I can’t argue about, that’s up for other managers to say and I’m sure there are lots of people who were very aggrieved for him to say that about their teams and their players.
“I will only defend the players I had, I had fantastic players and I was very lucky to manage a really outstanding Tottenham team who played great football, and to talk about them in that tone I think is an absolute disgrace.”
So who is right – Redknapp or Neville? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Meanwhile, Tottenham booked their place in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night with a 3-1 win at West Ham United thanks to Heung-Min Son’s brace and Fernando Llorente’s volley – watch all of the goals here.
i loved Harry when he was our manager the team was very watchable easy on the eye i think because he was pushing for the England job Levy thought hes not for us anymore and hes since gone downhill sadly you dont know what you have till its gone H
I completely agree with Harry Redknapp. I think Gary Neville just says these sorts of things so people don’t say that he’s boring like they used to. Harry Redknapp was my favourite manager before the mighty poch took over.