English Premier League: Harry Redknapp backs United as Roberto Mancini warns about drinking
Harry Redknapp has become the latest manager to voice his opinion on the Manchester City and the Manchester United rivalry. The veteran manager has backed Sir Alex Ferguson’s team to remain the superior team in Manchester regardless
of whatever City do. Manchester United finished 2nd in last season’s English Premier League competition as they finished just a single point behind the league winners Chelsea F.C. City on the other hand finished fifth below the likes of Arsenal
and Tottenham F.C.
Tottenham Hotspurs manager favored Manchester United when he was asked if City were posed to overtake Manchester United as Manchester’s number one club side. The former West Ham United manager said, "City are going to push them all
the way, obviously. They're going to keep improving but, at the moment, I still wouldn't want to bet on Man City finishing in front of Man United this year. If you asked me to put my life on it, I think I'd still go with Man United."
Redknapp went onto say that, City might eclipse United one day but only for one reason. He elaborated by stating, "Totteham’s chairman (Daniel Levy) said to me once, 'How come Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United, Liverpool, or whoever, win
the league every year?' If Ian Holloway had £150million-£200million to spend, he'd be close to winning the league at Blackpool, wouldn't he?"
The ex-Portsmouth manager added to his comments, "Man United will still produce players there, and they'll still be there, as long as Alex is there as well, you've got a special manager there who won't take being second best." Talking
about his own team’s chances against Manchester City, the Spurs manager said, "Man City are the one team who are maybe a bit stronger than they were last season. I think Arsenal will be in the top four. They are looking good. I still wouldn't write Liverpool
off and Everton will be pushing. So it's going to be hard but we have got as good as chance as anyone."
Tottenham will hold a much better chance of finishing the top four if they defeat Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday, something they haven’t done for the last 21 years. Redknapp remarked on this situation by saying, “Our
league position is really the key because we need to finish in that top four if we want to be in the Champions League again. It's important that we keep trying to pick up league points, even though we're going to a great stadium with a special atmosphere and
great tradition. It's always a massive game and hopefully we will go up there tomorrow and perform."
Alternatively, Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager has his own headache as video reports suggest that his Manchester City players such as Adam Johnson, Gareth Barry and Joe Hart emerged from a late night part in Scotland
earlier in the week. It is reported that the players were allegedly under the influence of alcohol.
Commenting on the reports, Mancini expressed, "I have not seen this video but I told them my opinion about this situation 10 days ago, I don't understand this. The video was on Monday, and Monday was a day off. Some players can do
what they want, but I don't understand why. I am unhappy about this, but for them. We play every three days and it is difficult to recover. I want to resolve this problem in the dressing room, not here (in a press conference)."
The Italian manager further added, "I think this problem is not only for us, it is for many players. For British players, it is part of the culture."
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