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Football

22nd May 2022

Jamie Redknapp reminds Roy Keane of brutal Spurs comments

Patrick McCarry

Jamie Redknapp

“I don’t think you can turn around and say this isn’t a strong squad.”

In February of last year [and last season], Jamie Redknapp went up against Roy Keane as he argued the merits of Tottenham Hotspurs’ squad.

Keane said top sides ‘wouldn’t touch’ every Spurs player, barring Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.

One particularly memorable exchange revolved around Sergio Reguilon, with Keane dismissively saying international caps were now being handed out ‘if you can trap a ball’.

“That’s why Real Madrid let him go,” Keane declared. “Why do you think Real Madrid let him go?’ … How much did they let him go for? How much did they let him go for? It’s not as if [Spurs] paid £60m or 70m for him.”

Spurs ended up finishing seventh, validating the viewpoint of Keane that the North Londoners had a soft centre. Redknapp had not backed down, though.

Jamie Redknapp reminds Roy Keane of comments

At Eastlands, this afternoon, Jamie Redknapp got in a little reminder of that February 2021 argument, moments after Roy Keane claimed Arsenal had “blown” their chance to finish fourth and claim the final Champions League spot.

“They’ve blown it, really,” said Keane of Arsenal. “When you think about it, the position they were in, Mikel Arteta will still be hurting. Their performance the other night [a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle] wasn’t good enough.

“But, try finish on a high, win in front of your home fans and hope for a miracle. But Arsenal have blown top four.” Next up was Jamie Redknapp.

“I don’t [see any jeopardy],” Redknapp boldly predicted. “I always said Spurs have got a good squad!”

“REGUILON!” Micah Richards joked, eliciting laughter from Redknapp and Sky Sports host Dave Jones. “I see it as being a foregone conclusion,” Redknapp said.

Ahead of his side’s away clash with Norwich City, on the final day of the Premier League season, Tottenham boss Antonio Conte said he would have immediately said ‘yes’ if he had been told, when he joined the club, that they would have Champions League destiny in their hands on the final day.