Redknapp: West Ham Will Always Be Close To My Heart

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has revealed that Monday nights opponents in the Premier League, West Ham United will always be close to his heart, but insists that Spurs will show no mercy to the Hammers as the North London club desperately need to pick up points to steer them to safety in the Premiership.

Redknapp spent a total of 15-years at Upton Park as a player and then manager and has insisted that the crop of young kids that came through, while he was in charge at West Ham are as good as any in recent times. These players included Michael Carrick, Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand (left), who are all established England International’s.

“The club will always be very close to my heart,” Redknapp said.

“I went there at 15, played for them and ended up managing them.

“We produced the best young players any club have produced since God knows when – in my opinion, as good as the Man United crop from the early 90s.

“Six kids who went on to play for England and four of them played in the Champions League final for Chelsea and United last year.

“We also established ourselves as a top-half club.”

Speaking about new West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola, Redknapp insisted that the former Chelsea player was the right person for the job, with his intent ion to bring attacking football to the East London club.

“The fans have been brought up on attractive, attacking football,” he said.

“That is what they've always demanded there and, with the way he played his football, he'll fit into that perfectly.”

However, despite his backing for Zola, Redknapp is keen that Spurs take all three points at Upton Park on Monday and start climbing the Premier League.

He added: “My priority now is picking up points for Spurs.

“It's a very important game. We are where we are in the league and that is our main priority.

“West Ham is always a tough place to go. Monday night at Upton Park under lights means a great atmosphere and great support.”

“If we hadn’t had the run we’ve had, we’d be in a desperate situation, but we’ve got some tough games coming up and we need to keep trying to pick up points.

“It has gone well since I got here, but we’re still bang in the relegation battle.”