We were probably going to lose anyway, says Redknapp
TOTTENHAM boss Harry Redknapp says referee Mark Clattenburg “made a mess” of Nani’s controversial goal in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Manchester United but admits his side would probably have lost anyway.
Nani tapped in past a baffled Heurelho Gomes as the Spurs goalkeeper prepared to take a free-kick he thought had been awarded for a handball by the United winger. Clattenburg, however, had not whistled, granting Tottenham the advantage instead, allowing Nani to clinch victory in contentious fashion.
“There was no whistle but everyone saw him handle it,” said Redknapp. “It’s a free-kick but he hasn’t given anything. He probably hasn’t seen it and he’s wondering why Gomes isn’t kicking the ball. I’ve always thought Mark Clattenburg was a good referee, and he is a good referee, but he made a mess of the situation.”
With only six minutes left on the clock at Old Trafford when Nani struck, and with Spurs’ last league win at United coming in 1989, Redknapp concedes his team were unlikely to snatch a draw anyway.
“We were losing 1-0 so I’m not going to say we were going to win the game and I’m not making excuses,” he added. “We were losing and chances are we were going to lose anyway, but you never know.”