Terrific Season for Spurs

Terrific Season for Spurs

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp hailed his Tottenham players after their 1-0 win over Manchester City secured a place in next season's Champions League.

Peter Crouch sealed fourth place in the Barclays Premier League for Spurs with an 82nd-minute header at Eastlands.

Redknapp said: "It's fantastic. It's been a terrific season for us, we've played some great football along the way and we deserve it.

"It was a good night, we played some good stuff and I could see the goal coming.

"Crouchy was fantastic, led the line, unbelievable.

"It was a good performance."

Spurs captain and man of the match Ledley King was thrilled.

"The supporters have been waiting for this for a long time, as the players have," King told Sky Sports 2.

"We've worked hard all season for this and you can see how much it meant today."

King played down the Champions League place as Tottenham, even if they overhaul north London rivals Arsenal and finish third, will have to go through qualifying to reach the group stages of Europe's elite competition.

"At the moment we're in fourth place. We still have to qualify for the Champions League," added King, who plays on despite a chronic knee injury.

"But that's why I still work hard to get on the pitch, because of moments like this."

King added: "It's been a topsy-turvy campaign this season, but I think we've shown the most consistency."

Spurs meet Burnley this weekend with a chance of climbing above the Gunners

"It's possible, they have to lose and we still have to beat Burnley," said King.

Crouch believed Tottenham were capable of breaking into a top four dominated by Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool in recent seasons.

"I knew we had a fantastic squad and were capable of anything," said Crouch.

"But the top four have been the top four for so many years because they've been the most consistent.

"For a club like us to break into the top four is a fantastic achievement. It's probably one of the best nights I've been part of."

Crouch played down his role after scoring the goal which secured the win.

"Throughout the course of the season the boys have been fantastic, the whole squad and we managed to get fourth but we still have to qualify," he added.

"I was in the right place at the right time. The keeper made a good save and I was in the right place just to nod it home.

"On the balance of play we deserved to win tonight."

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6 clubs for the title race - R.Mancini

6 clubs for the title race - R.Mancini

Roberto Mancini believes up to six clubs are capable of lifting the Premier League trophy this year.

Only three clubs - Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal - have managed it since 1995 and only the first two were tipped to achieve glory this term.

But in a season of shocks, predictions have been thrown out of the window and Mancini's Manchester City side take on Blackburn at Eastlands on Monday knowing a place in the top four could blow open the entire title race.

Certainly Mancini views the English championship as being far more open than Italy, where he was in charge of Inter Milan for the first three of what look certain to become five straight Serie A triumphs this term.

"There are five or six clubs that can win the Premier League," said Mancini.

"It is more competitive because there are many top players in England. And, of course, Manchester City are a top club."

So much has happened at Eastlands recently, and so diversionary has been the icy weather that has enveloped the region that it seems far longer than three weeks since Mancini was confirmed as Mark Hughes' successor.

Although Mancini has brought an admirable sense of stability to a club that appeared on the brink of chaos when Hughes was sacked, it was perhaps no surprise that he should turn to Patrick Vieira, someone he knows so well having worked together for two years at Inter, as his first signing.

"Patrick can help me," admitted Mancini.

"He knows me and my methods. His mentality is most important for the team.

"We needed a tall player like him in midfield. He can also score goals with his head, so it is really good to have him."

And, as Mancini joked, Vieira also speaks better English than his manager, which may be an advantage at certain times when a different voice is required in the dressing room.

Not that Vieira is being lined up as skipper.

Despite initial reservations, Kolo Toure seems set to keep that job, although the central defender - and Vieira's former Arsenal team-mate - is currently away at the African Nations Cup.

"I don't think he will be captain," said Mancini.

"We have many important players. Patrick is another one.

"It is more use for us that he plays well. He can improve our performance in all the games."

A calf injury picked up in his final game for Inter makes Vieira a doubt for the Blackburn game.

However, it will only be a brief delay as, rather than being a peripheral figure as some suggested, Mancini clearly views Vieira as being an integral member of his new-look City side.

"I see him as a regular player in the side," said Mancini.

"Patrick won a lot of trophies with Arsenal, Juventus and Inter.

"He must continue that at City because that attitude needs to go through to the other players here."

City officials are optimistic that extensive efforts to clear roads and access routes to Eastlands will prove successful on Monday after the impossibility of trying to do the same job for the Carling Cup semi-final with Manchester United last week.

Shaun Wright-Phillips is hopeful of recovering from an ankle injury in time to feature against Sam Allardyce's men, while Carlos Tevez, Craig Bellamy and Gareth Barry should all start after beginning last weekend's FA Cup defeat of Middlesbrough on the bench.

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Mourinho warns Mancini

Mourinho warns Mancini

Jose Mourinho believes Roberto Mancini will enjoy life at Manchester City although he warned his predecessor at Inter Milan that the Premier League is "completely different" to Serie A.

Mancini will appear at his first press conference as City manager later today after being named as the replacement for the sacked Mark Hughes on Saturday evening.

Mourinho had a hugely successful spell at Chelsea before joining Inter and he believes Mancini, who has been out of work since leaving the Nerazzurri in May 2008, is a good fit for ambitious City.

"I want to wish the best of luck to my colleague Roberto Mancini for his appointment at Manchester City," Mourinho told Sky Italia.

"It will be a great and special experience for him to test himself in a very different reality to Italian football.

"The Premier League is completely different to what he has known so far.

"Mancini is a good coach and has an owner (Sheikh Mansour) who spends a lot of money.

"I don't see why he shouldn't be happy in England."

One man who will not be following Mancini to Eastlands, according to his current employers, is Inter striker Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli has already been earmarked as a potential target for Mancini in the January transfer window, but Inter president Massimo Moratti insists the 19-year-old is going nowhere.

"I think they (Manchester City) have made a great signing (in Mancini)," said Moratti.

"But they should not inquire about Balotelli for January because we are not selling him."

Balotelli, who is under contract with the Nerazzurri until 2011, has made just six league starts for Mourinho's side this campaign.

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Roberto Mancini offered Nigeria job

Roberto Mancini offered Nigeria job

Roberto Mancini says he is willing to coach Nigeria after receiving an unofficial approach for the post.

The former Inter Milan boss says he was asked about his interest in the job should the position become available.

The Italian said he would negotiate a deal with the Nigerian FA if they were serious about their interest.

Mancini told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "I was asked about my willingness to take over in an unofficial way and I said I was willing because the prospect of an African Nations Cup and a World Cup appeal to me.

"Nigeria is rich with excellent players who are not well known. If they really want me, I'll sit down and negotiate."

Nigeria are currently managed by Shaibu Amodu but are believed to be interested in a foreign coach after the Super Eagles qualified for the World Cup finals in unconvincing fashion.

Nigeria had to beat Kenya in their final qualifying match and hope Mozambique defeated Tunisia to progress to the finals.

A brace from Obafemi Martins and a Yakubu Aiyegbeni goal gave Nigeria a 3-2 win, while Mozambique ran out 1-0 winners.

Amodu's side were placed alongside Argentina, South Korea and Greece in Group B for the finals in South Africa and Mancini could be in line for a return to management after been sacked by Inter in May 2008.

He led the Italian giants to a third consecutive Serie A title before losing his job and opted to take a year away from management.

But the 45-year-old said: "Since July the decision to rest off has no longer been mine."

He added that he would consider taking Marcello Lippi's post should the Italy manager step down after the World Cup.

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