Harry Redknapp refuses to get drawn into José Mourinho mind games

Posted Saturday, April 02, 2011 by theguardian.com

• Cristiano Ronaldo will not play against Spurs, says Mourinho
• Gareth Bale and William Gallas doubts for Tuesday's match

Harry Redknapp refuses to get drawn into José Mourinho mind games
Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Redknapp is sceptical towards José Mourinho's claims that Cristiano Ronaldo will play against his side in their Champions League fixture.

Harry Redknapp is refusing to be drawn into mind games with José Mourinho after the Real Madrid manager claimed Cristiano Ronaldo will miss Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg with Tottenham Hotspur in Spain.

The former World Player of the Year has been suffering with a thigh injury, which prevented him from featuring in Portugal's recent friendlies. Mourinho said he will definitely be without Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, his centre-forward who has a thigh problem, and the left-back Marcelo, who has bruised ribs.

The Madrid manager said: "The medical staff have told me they are only fit for [Athletic] Bilbao [Real's league game that follows the Tottenham match]. Cristiano, Marcelo and Benzema can only play in Bilbao."

His side host Sporting Gijón on Saturday night and asked if he was resting key personnel ahead of Spurs' visit, Mourinho said: "[Saturday's] game is more important than Tottenham. I can't rest anyone. If we lose this, we lose the league. If we lose on Tuesday we can turn things around in London."

When Redknapp was asked about Mourinho's comments the Tottenham manager was unmoved about the possible boost of not having to face Ronaldo. He said: "Is that what he said? Do you think he will? We'll have to see."

Redknapp may be without Gareth Bale and William Gallas due to hamstring and knee problems for Tuesday's match, with both unfit for Saturday's league match at Wigan Athletic. Redknapp was asked if he or Mourinho were engaged in kidology. He said: "No, not with me. We've got Wigan and that is a massive game. We've got to try to get in that top four again. If you were out there in the morning you would have seen William, when he tried to kick the ball he collapsed in pain. He has had two scans this week. I don't know whether he'll need an operation. We've shut him down again until Monday. I'm not kidding anyone about him.

"If Gareth was fit I'd play him against Wigan, but he's not travelling with us. The physio said: 'He's not ready. If you play him tomorrow he could tear that hamstring and he won't play for six or seven weeks.' So you can't even think about that." He said of the two Bale had the better chance of playing on Tuesday.

Redknapp also said he would talk to Rafael van der Vaart regarding the player's decision to walk straight down the tunnel after being substituted during the second half of the goalless home draw against West Ham United two weeks ago. "I don't like anyone walking straight down the tunnel. I've never liked it," he said. "I think players should sit on the bench and watch their team finish the game [as] you're all in it together. I'd find it hard to walk [off], you want to be there and stay with your team, that's how I've always seen it and that's how I want it here."

Redknapp believes that Van der Vaart's fitness is an issue – the Dutchman has played the full 90 minutes in eight of his 26 games for the club. "That is a problem for him – he tires in games at times and you pick up injuries when you get tired. That's why I've played him 65, 70, 75 minutes or whatever. Can he play 90 minutes tomorrow and then play 90 minutes on Tuesday?"