Bale blow to Tottenham’s Champions League hopes
Bale came off in the second-half of the draw at White Hart Lane after a robust challenge from Charlie Adam, which meant the Welshman had to leave the ground on crutches.
Bale’s pace and penetration will be hugely missed by the Londoners, who need to win all three of their remaining games against Manchester City (tonight) , Liverpool and Birmingham to have any chance of bringing Champions League football to White Hart Lane for a second successive season.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was under no illusions as to how difficult the fight to close the six-point gap that separates his team and City would be, even before the seriousness of Bale’s injury had been confirmed.
“It will take a miracle,” said Redknapp, who knows anything but a win at Eastlands will mean the end of the club’s top-four hopes.
“Roberto Mancini has got a fantastic squad. They’re in a great position. They are six points ahead of us and they have a better goal difference by miles.”
Bale has been forced to miss nine of Tottenham’s games in the second part of the season due to back and hamstring problems. His absence has coincided with the club’s slump in form, but Redknapp is confident his squad will be able to cope.
Tottenham are currently in the midst of their worst run of the season, with just one win coming from their last nine Barclays Premier League matches.
A sequence of four wins from their last six matches saw Spurs overcome the odds and beat City to the last Champions League qualification spot last season.
City responded by handing Mancini a huge war chest to sign the likes of Yaya Toure, David Silva and Edin Dzeko.
Redknapp thinks the Eastlands club’s spending power means it will only be a matter of time before they win the title.
“I don’t see what will stop them,” Redknapp said. “They will keep improving their squad until eventually they will win the championship.”
Spurs attempted to break their own transfer record to bring in a marquee signing this January. The club were ultimately unsuccessful in their attempts to sign strikers Sergio Aguero, Giuseppe Rossi and Diego Forlan, but Redknapp has repeatedly said that he will be back in the market for one or two world-class additions this summer.
Redknapp will also attempt to move on the likes of Robbie Keane, Giovani Dos Santos and David Bentley despite them failing to impress at their temporary clubs.
Rafael van der Vaart had been mentioned as another potential sale, but Redknapp says the Dutchman is going nowhere.
Meanwhile, Mancini is not convinced City’s surprise defeat at Everton will have a major effect on their Champions League qualification hopes – but it has cost him a chance to rest players ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final.
The Italian’s worry is that his key men may end up tired, which will hamper preparations for the Blues’ first final appearance in 30 years.
“I don’t think we have a problem for fourth spot,” he said.
“We still have three games left and we only need three points.
It looks increasingly likely skipper Carlos Tevez will play some part tonight, which would pave the way for the South American to lead City into battle at Wembley.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
