I’m cheering on Bayern, says frank Redknapp

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp admits he will put all family connections to one side and is praying for a Bayern Munich victory in the Champions League final next weekend.

Redknapp has got a ticket for the showpiece event in Munich and would normally have been cheering on his nephew Frank Lampard, who will be playing at the heart of the Chelsea midfield.

But with Arsenal securing third place, Tottenham need a Bayern Munich victory to confirm their place in the Champions League next season. Redknapp is desperate to see his side make a return to the biggest cup competition in Europe and will be hoping Chelsea fail to lift the trophy.

“We are professional. He [Frank] knows I want Tottenham to be in the Champions League next season and there is no love lost,” Redknapp said.

“When we play against Chelsea I want to beat them, whether Frank plays or not. My allegiances are to Tottenham only. I want to see us in the Champions League again next year.”

Redknapp had special praise for Emmanuel Adebayor, who got his side off to the perfect start with the opening goal and said he would love to keep him at White Hart Lane next season.

“He was only a loan and his loan is up,” Redknapp added. “It is up to the chairman if we could loan him again. I would like to keep him, he has done great for us.

“The only way we could do a deal was if the chairman did a clever deal like he did this year for him. I think they [City] will look and see what we do over the summer and see if we are anywhere near them or not.

“They don’t want him. They don’t want to see him ever again, if we are being honest. They want him out of the way and that is why they let him go.”

Redknapp revealed influential midfielder Scott Parker will have an injection today to determine if he can play at the European Championships. Parker has missed the last few games with an Achilles injury and was forced to miss the 2-0 win over Fulham.

“They are hoping that with six or seven days rest, it’ll be okay. If it doesn’t clear up, he wouldn’t be fit [for England]. If he had to have an operation it would be long term, so we’ll have to wait and see.”

Fulham manager Martin Jol is bracing himself for a busy summer of contract talks with several key players including Pavel Pogrebnyak, Mousa Dembele and Andy Johnson.

Jol said: “We did him [Johnson] an offer and he didn’t want to sign. He didn’t want to do it so it’s not a easy one. Pog wants to stay, first we talked about one year, then two years and now three years so I’m sure he wants to stay.

“Dembele will be very expensive and I think Dembele is a player who should stay with me for another year and then he will be one of the best players in the Premier League.”