Former Tottenham midfielder, Jamie Redknapp, has launched a blistering attack on the club's management, particularly targeting chairman Daniel Levy. In an astonishing critique delivered on Sky Sports before the Manchester United clash, Redknapp questioned Levy's motives and commitment to fostering a winning culture at the club.
Redknapp suggested that despite being one of the wealthiest clubs in the world and having a fan base that is hungry for success, Tottenham Hotspur seems to lack interest in cultivating a winning culture. This criticism comes as Spurs prepare to host fellow underperformers Manchester United in what promises to be an intense Sunday afternoon match-up.
The former midfielder expressed his concerns about both clubs languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table. This is especially concerning given their financial muscle and high expectations from fans and pundits alike.
Former Tottenham midfielder, Jamie Redknapp, said:
“There's never really been any rhyme or reason when he has gotten rid of managers. That's what I would say. You look at Villas-Boas, he was seventh in the league. I think it's hard to second guess what someone like Daniel Levy will do, He will look at things and try to assess. I feel normally when he comes under huge pressure that is he normally tends to want to change the manager. I think probably right now who else do I want to bring in? There are candidates out there who I probably think will do a great job here but that's the problem.
“I've thought long and hard about this situation since they lost against Liverpool because I played for both clubs. And I try to figure out why is it Tottenham have been underachieving for so long and I think a lot of it does from culture. Gary (Neville) just mentioned it about a winning culture. When I was at Liverpool I didn't win as much as I'd liked there but every season the culture and environment was to try and win.
"Around the ground there were always pictures of people who won trophies, people like Graeme Souness, tremendous leaders of the football club. But here (at Spurs) I just think that as long as they've got the American football and they’ve got Beyonce in the summer, I think they are happy. I think the owners are happy. It looks like a business model that everyone can be happy with. It's successful. But does that breed a winning environment? No it doesn't because something is fundamentally wrong.”
Fans protest against chairman Daniel Levy
In light of these disappointing performances, Tottenham fans have taken their frustrations out on chairman Daniel Levy with protests planned before their game against Manchester United. The fans' discontent mirrors Redknapp’s sentiments about Levy’s leadership style and his perceived lack of ambition for success on the pitch.
Redknapp further criticized that despite poor performance on-field, there seems to be satisfaction within Spurs’ hierarchy due to increasing revenues. He believes this focus on financial gain over sporting success could be detrimental to Tottenham’s future prospects.
The former player turned pundit argued that while revenue growth is essential for any football club's sustainability, it should not overshadow or compromise sporting achievements - something he feels is happening under Levy's stewardship.
Managerial instability under scrutiny
Manager Ange Postecoglou finds himself under immense pressure following a string of shocking results which have been exacerbated by an unfortunate list of injuries within his squad. However, according to Redknapp, Levy’s strategy of sacking managers to deflect attention from his own job during his tenure is not helping the situation.
Redknapp's critique paints a picture of a club in turmoil, with its management under fire for prioritizing financial success over sporting glory. It remains to be seen how Tottenham will respond to these criticisms and whether they can turn their fortunes around on the pitch.
