Redknapp: It’s all about psychology

Harry Redknapp accepts you have to be as much as psychologist as a manager nowadays as he looks to lift Tottenham as they prepare to return to action in the Premier League against Stoke tonight following the trauma of Fabrice Muamba’s cardiac arrest.

The news coming from London Chest Hospital concerning the condition of the 23-year-old, now described as “comfortable” in intensive care, is much more positive than immediately after the Bolton midfielder’s heart had stopped for two hours following his collapse during the first half of the FA Cup quarter-final at White Hart Lane on Saturday evening.

Spurs’ players and coaching staff alike were all moved by the experience, with both counselling offered by the club as well as the opportunity for heart tests at the training ground in Chigwell.

Redknapp revealed he had trouble sleeping in the wake of last weekend’s events, but fully understands the importance of his own role at the helm of the squad.

“There’s more to it now than there ever was. The lads are different now, probably,” said the Tottenham manager.

“I think football management is about it being half a psychologist with them anyway, really.

“Everything you do with them it is all psychology. You have always got people who are up, or some who are down because they are not playing.

“You are never going to have everybody happy or all on the same wavelength. You are always going to have problems, you are dealing with a load of young guys.”

Many fans left White Hart Lane last weekend distraught by the scenes as paramedics treated Muamba on the pitch.

Redknapp called for everyone to be united behind the team as they look to end a run of three successive league defeats which has allowed Arsenal and Chelsea to close back up on the Champions League places.

He said: “We can’t come off and say ‘we got the game out of the way’. We need to win. We can’t come out and not play, not be up for a game.”

Redknapp, though, will manage his team selection carefully.

“You can soon tell when they are training if their mind is on it or they don’t look like they are into it, for any reason,” the Spurs manager said.

“If they are not I will have a chat with them then. If they come out and train and they look bright then there’s no problems.”