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Harry Redknapp predicts close battle for Champions League spot

Ben Rumsby,Pa
Monday 21 March 2011 18:40 GMT
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Redknapp has guided his team to the quarter-finals of this year's competition
Redknapp has guided his team to the quarter-finals of this year's competition

Harry Redknapp believes Tottenham and Manchester City's battle for a Champions League spot could go down to the wire for a second successive season.

Spurs pipped City to fourth place last year after winning their crunch clash at the City of Manchester Stadium in their penultimate game of the campaign.

And it is shaping up to be a similar story this season after City lost at Chelsea yesterday to surrender third spot, with fifth-placed Tottenham four points behind with a game in hand.

The sides are set to meet again at Eastlands at the tail end of the current campaign after their April 17 clash was postponed due to City's involvement in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Spurs boss Redknapp told his club's official website, www.tottenhamhotspur.com: "It's going to be tight but we're playing very well, we're in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and trying to get in the top four again.

"We knew getting fourth spot would be difficult at the start of the season, it always is, and it's the same for Man City or anybody. But we're still in there fighting."

One man who could prove the difference between the sides is Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric, who produced another outstanding performance in Saturday's goalless draw with West Ham.

Redknapp said: "Luka's incredible. He's on another planet.

"You think teams have got good players until you see them play against him and you realise he's on another level.

"Absolutely top drawer. He's a fantastic player and a fantastic boy. I could sit and watch him play all day."

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