Tottenham can pull off miracle win, says Harry Redknapp

Posted Wednesday, April 13, 2011 by BBC.com

Tottenham can pull off miracle win, says Harry Redknapp
Champions League progress not impossible - Harry Redknapp

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has said his team can pull off a "miracle" Champions League comeback against Real Madrid at White Hart Lane on Wednesday.

Spurs go into the quarter-final second leg trailing 4-0 from the first match.

"We know it would take a miracle but miracles can happen," said Redknapp. "If we play very well you never know."

No side has ever recovered from a 4-0 first-leg defeat to progress in the competition but Redknapp joked he would settle for a penalty shoot-out.

"I'd take penalties, we have been practising," he said.

Spurs have already produced some thrilling fightbacks in an entertaining debut season in the Champions League.

They rallied from 3-0 down in the qualifying round against Young Boys to make the group stage.

Then, faced with a 4-0 half-time deficit to Inter Milan at the San Siro, Gareth Bale led the fight-back with a memorable hat-trick before they eventually lost 4-3.

But despite needing to score four unanswered goals to take the quarter-final tie into extra-time, Redknapp said it would be dangerous for Spurs to adopt a gung-ho approach.

"Everyone says we have to attack them but you are playing against world-class players, so you don't want to keep bombing everyone forward and getting ripped open on the counter-attack," he said.

"So long as we play well and give it everything we have I can't ask for anything more.

"We have to see if we can win the game and see how the game develops."

Real coach Jose Mourinho agreed with Redknapp that the tie is not yet over and vowed to select a strong side.

"We have to respect Tottenham and we have to respect football, because football sometimes can betray you," said the former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss.

"That is why we are coming here to play seriously. We know the mentality of English stadiums, supporters and teams. They will try everything.

"I put myself in Harry's position. If we lost 4-0 here and were going to Madrid I wouldn't throw the towel in. I would do everything I could to try to bring about a miracle.

"I don't think five goals would be enough for Tottenham to beat us because we are coming here to score goals.

"I will pick the best team, to get the best result possible. We have a job to finish."

Meanwhile, Spurs midfielder Luka Modric said the team would stay together even if they are knocked out on Wednesday night and then failed to qulaify for the Champions League next season.

Reports have linked Modric and Bale with big-money transfers at the end of the season.

"I don't think we are going to break up, the players have long contracts and we are really enjoying playing here," said Modric.

"We can learn a lot from this season in the Champions League. There is a bright future for us to become one of the best teams if we stay together for a long time."