Finishing fifth's no failure but Harry Redknapp may regret it as the fourth is with Manchester City

We've heard this before. A manager playing down his team's chances of success, trying to take the pressure off his men, while at the same time not wanting the fans to get too expectant for fear of letting them down come May.

But even if Spurs do finish fifth and don't qualify for the Champions League, Harry and his coaching team can, I believe, look back at this season as a success.

From the bottom of the Premier League to the brink of Europe's elite competition in just 18 short months, Harry has transformed a team that had no confidence and were nervous of playing in front of their own crowd into one that have not only become much more consistent, but are also playing the type of football that Spurs supporters have yearned for for many a year.

The White Hart Lane faithful may not agree with me with Champions League qualification so tantalisingly close but Harry's right, finishing fifth this season would not be a failure.

The one regret Harry may have is that if ever there was a year Spurs, Aston Villa or Everton for that matter wanted to break into the top four, then this was it.

Manchester City with all their billions will only get stronger. And once they do crack the top four, which they probably will come next month, then they will finally be able to attract the established world-class players with the lure of Champions League football.

With Liverpool going backwards, City could make the big four a closed shop again along with Chelsea, Arsenal and United. So Harry really must raise his troops again for one more big effort against Carlo Ancelotti's men tomorrow.

The result in the north London derby was just what Spurs needed on so many levels. After losing the FA Cup semi-final to Portsmouth as well as the Sunderland game before that, it looked like the wheels had come off. But beating their arch-rivals has put the pressure right back on City and, at the same time dented Arsenal's title hopes, an added bonus for all Spurs fans. It has given the team back the belief that they can really get that coveted fourth spot.

Playing the Gunners was the perfect match to have after the previous two defeats. Facing another London rival in Chelsea is not far behind considering Spurs's history of beating a top team then losing to a lesser side in the very next game.

After 120 energy-sapping minutes at Wembley last Sunday, then working incredibly hard against Arsenal on Wednesday — it's a lot harder physically without the ball than with it and the Gunners had the majority of the possession — Tottenham's players may not have fully recovered in time against a Chelsea side who are full of confidence.

Spurs fans will be up for it and will certainly try to lift the team but the Blues are not only capable of playing any team off the park, they are also physically stronger than most.

Three extremely tough games in such a short space of time might just be too much to ask for Harry's team to cope with.

One player who doesn't have a fitness problem at the moment and has shown he can be a match winner is Gareth Bale. The Wales international is in the form of his life and looks a lot more comfortable at left wing than left-back.

Bale has the potential to be a truly world-class full-back but I'm not sure Harry fully trusts him yet in his defensive responsibilities because he can lose concentration and possibly cost his side goals. Further forward he has the shackles taken off and with his pace and wonderful left foot, he can give any right-back a torrid time.

It will be interesting to see if Chelsea boss Ancelotti keeps faith with Paulo Ferreira or brings back fit-again Branislav Ivanovic.

The Serb has been a revelation this season but Ferreira has come in and not put a foot wrong. Whoever is in that position, I'm sure Harry will take Bale to one side before the game, tell him to attack the full-back and make Bale feel he can be the match winner for the second time in four days.

A win against Chelsea really would make Spurs favourites to beat City to fourth spot, especially if United beat Roberto Mancini's side earlier in the day. I just think they might run out of gas against the Blues.

Manchester City with all their billions will only get stronger so it will be tougher for Tottenham next season