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Anyone could win the title with Manchester City's money, claims Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp
With this weekend's battle between first and third potentially having a huge bearing on the title race, both managers have been keen to light the blue touch paper
21-Jan-2012 6:13:00 PM
By Tom Marshall-Bailey
Harry Redknapp has cranked up the pressure on Roberto Mancini and his Manchester City side after claiming that anyone could win the Premier League with the Blue’s financial muscle.
Redknapp had already implied that he felt City were buying their way to a first league title since 1968 before suggesting that he would be disappointed not to win it if he was in charge at Eastlands.
“To be honest, [even] you would have a chance [with that much money at your disposal],” Redknapp told one journalist. “I'd fancy you to manage them. You'd win the league.
“It's a different game when you buy players and pay them £250,000 a week. If I could have Tevez today … you ain't got to be a genius, have you? I would have been very close to winning the league. I'd be very disappointed if we couldn't win it with that kind of money.
“I don't know about more than once. It's always difficult to finish above Man United. But certainly you'd fancy your chances.”
Redknapp admits that he was shocked to hear that his side were interested in Aguero in the summer and insisted that the deal would never have been a possibility because of the Argentinian’s extortionate wage demands.
“When they started talking last year about Tottenham's bid for Aguero, I thought, ‘What a load of nonsense’. How can we afford Aguero? We ain't gonna pay £250k a week. It's not possible.
“I don't think Sheik Mansour is too bothered about the £150,000 he saves a week [on Emmanuel Adebayor's wages while on loan at Spurs from City].”
Mancini responded to his counterpart’s outburst by audaciously offering Redknapp the opportunity to borrow money from him before pointing out that Tottenham have also spent heavily in recent years.
“He can borrow money from us if he doesn't have money,” joked the Italian.
“Harry isn't the first to say this. But they have bought good players. Maybe not like us in the last two years, but in the last 10 years they've bought good players and spent money like all the other teams.
"In Italy we use the word ‘jealous’ for a woman. Not for the fact we're spending money.”
Redknapp also revealed his distaste at Mancini waving imaginary cards on the touchline, and implied that he would set his right-hand man, Joe Jordan, on him if the Italian tried it tomorrow.
“I don't like it,” said Redknapp. “I will set Big Joe on him. Joe speaks good Italian. He can talk to him.”
Mancini appeared unfazed by Redknapp’s comments and hit back by telling the press that such gestures are run of the mill in his homeland.
“This is nothing for us in Italy. In Italy we move our hands. Only in England there is a problem.”
Redknapp had already implied that he felt City were buying their way to a first league title since 1968 before suggesting that he would be disappointed not to win it if he was in charge at Eastlands.
“To be honest, [even] you would have a chance [with that much money at your disposal],” Redknapp told one journalist. “I'd fancy you to manage them. You'd win the league.
“It's a different game when you buy players and pay them £250,000 a week. If I could have Tevez today … you ain't got to be a genius, have you? I would have been very close to winning the league. I'd be very disappointed if we couldn't win it with that kind of money.
“I don't know about more than once. It's always difficult to finish above Man United. But certainly you'd fancy your chances.”
Redknapp admits that he was shocked to hear that his side were interested in Aguero in the summer and insisted that the deal would never have been a possibility because of the Argentinian’s extortionate wage demands.
“When they started talking last year about Tottenham's bid for Aguero, I thought, ‘What a load of nonsense’. How can we afford Aguero? We ain't gonna pay £250k a week. It's not possible.
“I don't think Sheik Mansour is too bothered about the £150,000 he saves a week [on Emmanuel Adebayor's wages while on loan at Spurs from City].”
Mancini responded to his counterpart’s outburst by audaciously offering Redknapp the opportunity to borrow money from him before pointing out that Tottenham have also spent heavily in recent years.
“He can borrow money from us if he doesn't have money,” joked the Italian.
“Harry isn't the first to say this. But they have bought good players. Maybe not like us in the last two years, but in the last 10 years they've bought good players and spent money like all the other teams.
"In Italy we use the word ‘jealous’ for a woman. Not for the fact we're spending money.”
Redknapp also revealed his distaste at Mancini waving imaginary cards on the touchline, and implied that he would set his right-hand man, Joe Jordan, on him if the Italian tried it tomorrow.
“I don't like it,” said Redknapp. “I will set Big Joe on him. Joe speaks good Italian. He can talk to him.”
Mancini appeared unfazed by Redknapp’s comments and hit back by telling the press that such gestures are run of the mill in his homeland.
“This is nothing for us in Italy. In Italy we move our hands. Only in England there is a problem.”
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