Criticism of Arsene Wenger is unfair, says Harry Redknapp

11 April 2012

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has hit out at critics of Arsene Wenger, insisting the pressure on his Gunners counterpart is unjust.

Wenger's side will remain seven points behind league leaders Manchester United if Spurs inflict their first league double over their bitter local rivals in 18 years tonight.

But Redknapp, despite admitting that the Gunners are on the ropes in their quest for their 14th league title, has taken time out to slam critics of his opposite number.

"I don't understand how they can criticise him. They have had fantastic success and play great football," Redknapp said.

"He managed a team that went a whole season unbeaten. What an achievement that was. That was amazing to do that. He has won enough trophies at Arsenal already. He doesn't need another to have vindication, surely. His record stands up anyway."

Redknapp mused last year that the man who was viewed as a calm professor when he arrived in England in 1996 from Grampus Eight had turned into a "big nutter" thanks to the pressure of playing on these shores.

The Spurs boss believes all managers are now subject to unfair abuse and scrutiny from fans calling in to radio phone-ins after every match, with Wenger one of the many victims.

"I don't understand the criticism (of Wenger) at all but that's what you expect in football, you get that in this game now," said Redknapp, who will be taking charge of his 100th league game at the club.

"If he was angry about it then I don't blame him. I would have been too. "If you lose a few games some people call these silly phone-ins and say 'they were rubbish today. They were absolutely useless' when they weren't even at the game, they were listening to it on the radio or shopping with the wife.

"I don't listen to them. I'll turn the radio on and put Magic FM on instead. I want to listen to some music. I don't want to listen to a bunch of idiots. They must have sad lives."

Redknapp claims that the Gunners must win every one of their remaining six matches to stand any chance of catching United, who have pulled clear of their rivals thanks to the poor recent form of Wenger's team.

"They will be hoping to win all their games and hope Man United slip up", Redknapp said.

"They had a couple of games at home they would have thought they should have won and they threw a great opportunity away after they only took a point at the weekend (against Liverpool).

"If they had taken those points, you look at where they would be with Man United to play at home - they would have been in pole position. It's amazing how it's turned out."

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