Spurs manager Harry Redknapp predicts tough season ahead for EPL champions

Tottenham Hotspurs manager Harry Redknapp's statement that Manchester United will not dominate the upcoming English Premier League season 2011-12 has raised many eyebrows on the eve of the Vodacom Challenge final between Spurs and local outfit Orlando Pirates here yesterday.


Harry Redknapp. Pic/Getty Images

"I don't think Manchester United will dominate this (2011-12) season," the 64-year-old veteran manager said.u00a0
"In fact, teams like Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and even Liverpool had their chances last season too, but they didn't take it and that's what led to United retaining the Premiership (making it a record 19 League and 11 FA Cup titles).

"United is a fantastic team but thisu00a0 is going to be one of the toughest EPL seasons given the way the teams have prepared. Chelsea and Man City will be tough and so will Liverpool who have done well recently. I believe this time around at least six teams will be very strong contenders for the four Champions League spots up for grabs in the EPL," added the 2008 FA Cup winning manager of Portsmouth.

"We've had a pretty good pre-season here (in South Africa) too. Our preparations (for the EPL) have been fantastic and I've been very impressed with the high standard of football we've faced here (against Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando).

"In fact, I'm sure even teams like Man United and Chelsea (who are currently scoring loads of goals in the pre-season Asia tours) would not have managed to do that against the teams here," said Redknapp, who guided Tottenham to a fourth-place finish in the 2009-10 EPL season and with it an opportunity to play in the Champions League for the first time.

In the conference, involving the Spurs there's no way Redknapp could sidestep questions regarding skipper Luka Modric, who is keen to quit Whitehart Lane for Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have already failed in their bid for the Croatian international, and their latest attempt is said to be an irresistible ufffd35m. Redknapp said: "Firstly, we're not looking to sell Luka and secondly, even if we were, he is certainly worth a lot more (than ufffd35m). We're determined to hang on to him but it is a difficult situation for both Luka and Tottenham."