Soccer

Tottenham have been soft for the last FORTY years': Roy Keane and Jamie Redknapp clash on Sky AGAIN


Jamie Redknapp and Roy Keane were involved in another tense war of words on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday programme when talking about Tottenham‘s decline from title challengers. 

Redknapp’s former club Spurs faced Keane’s old employers Manchester United in Sunday’s Premier League action and both Sky Sports pundits were present in north London for build-up of the game. 

The argument between the pair started during a debate at the beginning of the programme about a potential softness in this Tottenham side, with Keane saying there has been a fragile side to Spurs ‘over the last 40 years’. 

Roy Keane (second left) and Jamie Redknapp (far right) were involved in another on air Sky Sports row when discussing Tottenham

Roy Keane (second left) and Jamie Redknapp (far right) were involved in another on air Sky Sports row when discussing Tottenham

Keane (above) spoke about Tottenham's slide from title challengers to outside the top four

Keane (above) spoke about Tottenham’s slide from title challengers to outside the top four

Keane said on Sky Sports: ‘There is a softness in this Spurs team. Yeah Jamie, they got to the Champions League final the year before (Jose Mourinho arrived) but they were lucky to get to that final. 

‘Also, getting to the final is like being top of the league in November. They got to the final but they got beaten in the final. 

‘What are we sitting here talking about Mourinho for? If you’re trying to get to a final, the whole point about it is winning the bloody thing. 

‘And when Mourinho leaves, there will still be softness to this Spurs team. That’s down to the players.’

Redknapp defended Tottenham teams in recent years and criticised manager Jose Mourinho

Redknapp defended Tottenham teams in recent years and criticised manager Jose Mourinho

Redknapp, who played for Spurs in the 1990s and 2000s and whose father Harry used to manage the club, responded: ‘So they’ve been soft for the last however many years? No, I’m not having it. 

‘So when they got to the quarter-final of the Champions League with Bale and Modric? That was a good team. You can’t say they were always soft, Roy. They’ve had some great teams over the past few years. 

‘They’re not as good as United, they’re not as good as City but they haven’t spent the money those teams have. 

Keane then said: ‘If quarter-final is success, then you can have your success.

‘Back when they played West Ham they were 3-0 up (and drew 3-3). Do you think that’s down to the manager. Get the job done. 

Keane claimed Tottenham have been soft for the past 40 years and before Jose Mourinho

Keane claimed Tottenham have been soft for the past 40 years and before Jose Mourinho

Redknapp (right) played for Tottenham in his career and his father Harry (left) managed Spurs

Redknapp (right) played for Tottenham in his career and his father Harry (left) managed Spurs

‘You’ve got experienced international players there. You’re telling me they can’t manage that? Leopards don’t change their spots, there’s a softness at Spurs and it will be there for the next 40 years at this club.’

Instead, Redknapp took aim at Spurs boss Mourinho for their failure, especially considering how he blames his players for a defeat.

The Sky pundit said: ‘When I look at Jose right now, he is just reverting to type when things are going wrong. 

‘You can’t deny his record, he’s one of the greatest managers we’ve ever seen in football when he’s winning. But when it goes the other way, that’s when you learn a lot about a manager. 

‘It’s just typical of what Jose Mourinho does. As soon as things go wrong he throws players under the bus and if I was in that dressing room I would be asking him why. 

‘You’re the Special One. Why can’t you make us better? Why do we keep conceding goals with 20 minutes or 10 minutes to go in games? That’s what you’re so good at, setting the team up to make sure it doesn’t happen. 

Redknapp said Spurs boss Mourinho has to stop blaming his players for Spurs' poor form

Redknapp said Spurs boss Mourinho has to stop blaming his players for Spurs’ poor form 

‘So he has to take an awful amount of responsibility. He’s got to do better with the squad that he’s got.’

Just a few minutes before, Keane had joked about Tottenham’s slide from table toppers to outside the top four, saying: ‘It’s always great to be top of the league in November. A vital time of the season that. A lot of teams are top in November eh?’

Redknapp then responded: ‘Alright, you on it today? There were people giving them (Tottenham) the trophy at that stage. They already had the photo with the trophy.’

Keane sharply said: ‘Not me. I didn’t think they’d win the league – relax,’ which provoked Redknapp to say: ‘Don’t you start again.’   

Before coverage began, fellow Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards joked that both Redknapp and Keane were set for a fight on air and introduced the pair like a boxing match.

Richards asked Keane: ‘Have you calmed down? You’re never calm. They’ve brought me in today – I’m not involved with any team (involved on Super Sunday) – to calm everything down.’

Redknapp strongly disagreed with Keane over the ability of several stars in Tottenham's squad back in February

Keane claimed two months ago that Spurs are an average team without Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min

Redknapp strongly disagreed with Keane over Tottenham’s potential back in February

Redknapp then jibed: ‘It’s a problem for you (Richards) today. It’s a love triangle – we’re going to learn a lot about you today. You don’t know which way to go, do you?’ 

The first row of the season between Keane and Redknapp came at the end of February when discussing Tottenham’s quality in their squad – with the former claiming that nobody apart from Harry Kane or Son Heung-min would play for another top side.   

Redknapp took offence to those comments and fought back, stating that the likes of Toby Alderweireld and Sergio Reguilon were good players due to their international status.  

Keane then said: ‘If you don’t play for your country now, you’re a bad player.’  



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