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A disappointed Harry Redknapp admitted today that his team had wasted a golden opportunity to end their jinx against Manchester United.
Spurs lost 2-0 in the Carling Cup quarter-finals last night against a weakened United team and have now not beaten the champions for 21 matches.
Darron Gibson, 22, scored two long-range goals as the holders progressed to the last four with a side that was missing Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Michael Owen, Rio Ferdinand and Darren Fletcher.
Spurs are riding high in the Premier League and beat Wigan 9-1 nine days ago but they have now come unstuck against United twice this season and have also lost to Chelsea and Arsenal.
Redknapp said: “I am very disappointed. You are never going to get a better opportunity than we did to beat United.
“We've been playing so well recently but there was no atmosphere. It was played at a lethargic pace; we didn't make a tackle in the first half. It was like a practice match, it just never got going.”
United skipper Gary Neville insisted the club's youngsters proved they are capable of playing regularly at the top level.
The club's second string were criticised after losing to Besiktas last week to concede an unbeaten Champions League home record that stretched back 23 matches. But Neville said: “At times we probably played better against Besiktas but didn't get the goals. In the first half against Spurs, we didn't play the best football but Gibbo scored two great goals and that made it routine.
“I don't look at them as younger players. Some of them are 19 or 20 but they are playing for their countries and they deserve to be there by right. Sometimes the criticism they get is unfair but that is playing for Manchester United — when you lose a game, that is what happens.
“I think they could hold their own in the Premier League. They are of that quality and they shouldn't be regarded as young players. They are obviously developing but they have the quality to play in the Premier League.”
Cup holders United will learn their semi-final opponents after tonight's matches between Manchester City and Arsenal and Blackburn and Chelsea.
Aston Villa are already through after a 4-2 win at Portsmouth and Neville added: “It's going to be difficult to defend the trophy because there are still a lot of good teams left in the competition.
“But we are in the semi-final and we always like to do well in this competition. We have done well in recent years and we want to do well in it this year.”
Reader views (14)
Yes we should have won this game. But having said that the Carling Cup is a meaningless cup. Spurs have won it once and have come runners up last year dont need to win it or get into the final each year. I would rather concentrate on the league to be perfectly fair and maybe break into the top 4 finally. How can one say we will be lucky if we did break into the top 4 it will be that we deserved it. Robbie Hotspurrs you are having a laugh do you really think Arsenal will finish above us when they have lost their last to matches to Sunderland and Chelsea I dont think so and Liverpool arent good enough for even a top 4 finish either I reckon Liverpool Arsenal Villa and Man City will finish below us this season if we carry on the way we played against Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa. And that is by beating Everton on Sunday which I think we will do. I think Spurs have played well so far in comparison to what we did last season when we were rooted at the bottom of the table with 2 points from 8 games that was even more alarming having said that we brought Redknapp in and he has done a wonderful job taking us from 20th to 8th last season and now we can finally try and break into the top 4 maybe get 3rd who knows we are def capable of doing it its whether we achieve it and do it.
- Seb, bromley Spurs Supporter, 03/12/2009 01:19
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spurs have an inferiority complex when they play at OLD TRAFFORD as this competition was not our priority we should have played a team of players that are on the fringe and hungry to win and then we may find some nuggets ,we should do the same as man utd and arsenal. we are in the top 4 we have to stay there and not worry about this cup
- J Windsor, LONDON ENGLAND, 02/12/2009 14:57
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This seasons Premiership table will finish:
1. Chelsea
2. Man Utd
3. Arsenal
4. Man City
5. Liverpool
6. Aston Villa
7. Tottenham
Time for Harry to go before he bankrupts our beloved club
- Robbie Hootspurs, Finsberry Park, 02/12/2009 14:54
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Just as well Rooney, Giggs and all the other United first teamers weren't playing. It all honesty, it was a stroll in the second half. Spurs? no balls.
- James Hennessy, Manchester England, 02/12/2009 14:42
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Well, i was disappointed by watching that game, that was supposed to be a cup game with end to end stuff.. Lack of That, Harry, didn't play the players who don't usually play, what happen to Pav? Playing Defoe, Crouch (who don't nothing) these guys done well against Wigan, but this game was poor, Defot shouldn't even been on the pitch and yes that was a great chance of beating Man Utd..
True no one could even tackle....Harry mate some of these players need a kick mate.. Only player played well was Bale...Bassong, Palacios and Defoe and Jenas, didn't like they wanted to play and win...We need some new faces in the team..
- Adrian, london, 02/12/2009 14:33
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Spurs WILL NOT finish in the top 5, probably not the top 6. No shame as their supporters are revolting
- Blue, UK, 02/12/2009 13:27
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Everytime Spurs have played top clubs this season they have 'backed off' and not shown much fight. They lack confidence against quality opposition and will be lucky to finish top 4.
- Adam, London, 02/12/2009 12:21
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Rather be 3rd from the top than 3rd from bottom!
You should take more of a interest in the championship,Then you bubble blowers can at last call your self a BIG club.
- Jamie, essex, 02/12/2009 11:39
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Harry couldn't keep a straight face last night in his interview with Sky TV.He didn't want to win that game and possibly face Arsenal or Man City in either January or March when the heat will be on for top four places. If he lost in the semi's or final to either of those two, the media would immediatly be slaughtering Spurs as not being capable of competing for their CL place.
Whether or not they get there or not remains to be seen, but if I was Harry, not having the pressure of playing either of those two at a crucial time of the season makes perfectly sound common sense.
The way they pranced around in the second half was alien compared with the Villa or Wigan games.
- Kevin, London, 02/12/2009 10:47
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Still above Arsenal, I see...
- St, London, 02/12/2009 10:33
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Woefull, Palicios and Jenas cant pass the ball, Keane is not good enough.
- Paxton, N17, 02/12/2009 10:28
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What on earth do we have to do to beat Utd, they put out a young and inexperienced side - we had almost a full strength squad. Yet none of them showed one piece of desire to want to win, tackle, defend, infact they showed no lack of anything so bang goes have the chance to progress. Old Trafford was deafly quiet, and it is probably the biggest waste of my time travelling all the way up there to watch total garbage. It baffles me, and they honestly expect to break the top 4 with this attitude. Always seems we get arrogant and ahead of ourselves after a few good results and then bang - back down to earth and made to look ordinary.
- James, TOTTENHAM, 02/12/2009 10:11
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Woeful 'Harry', bang goes your season, with the Carling Cup Tottenham's usual priority, its now down to the serious business of trying to qualify for Europe. With Arsenal having a game in hand. Man City, Liverpool & Villa looming, it wont be an easy task.
- Fifty Years & Still Waiting, South London, 02/12/2009 09:01
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Still, winning the Champions League is the important thing, eh?
It's a Small Club competition anyway.
A top four place is priority.
Blah blah...
- Stu, Beckton, 02/12/2009 08:51
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