Jamie Redknapp has launched a scathing attack on Tottenham Hotspur, claiming the club has prioritised becoming a "brilliant entertainment business" over being a serious football club. The former Spurs midfielder suggested that relegation would be "nothing more than they deserve" given the club's lack of ambition and misguided focus on revenue-generating events.
Relegation Battle Goes to Final Day
Tottenham's Premier League survival hangs in the balance after a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Tuesday night. The north Londoners now sit two points above West Ham, who host Leeds on the final day. A win for the Hammers could relegate Spurs if they fail to beat Everton at home. The club, once a Champions League finalist in 2019, now faces the prospect of dropping into the Championship.
Redknapp's Verdict: 'Not a Serious Football Club'
Speaking on Sky Sports, Redknapp did not hold back: "Everything is in place - incredible fanbase, amazing stadium, amazing training ground - but if you haven't got the players to fill that... Tottenham has become a brilliant entertainment business. They get the best American Football, they get Beyonce, but it's the only club that does that. Everyone says 'that's great business', but it's a football club. In England we do football, we don't do the American-style entertainment. I don't see Arsenal doing too many things like that."
He added: "They're a business and a football club, I don't look at them and think you're a serious football club right now. I played there, I was in the dressing room, and I felt there was a lack of ambition at the club - and it hasn't changed."
Owners Blamed for Managerial Failures
Redknapp pointed the finger at the club's ownership, saying: "If they do get relegated it's nothing more than they deserve. They've been awful all season. It's not right to blame Thomas Frank, it's not right to blame Igor Tudor - the people that employed them are those you should be looking at because they haven't worked out."
The pundit, who played for Tottenham from 2002 to 2005, acknowledged that a couple of wins under Roberto De Zerbi have helped, but downplayed their significance: "The only thing that's saved them is a couple of good results. When I say good, they beat Wolves, and they beat an Aston Villa side who had seven players out at the time. Now they've got to find a way to win a game at home. Their home form has been horrendous all season. They've had no quality and no character to win a football match."
A Club in Decline
Tottenham's fall from grace has been steep. Seven years ago they were in a Champions League final; now they are fighting to stay in the Premier League. The club has used three managers this season, and their stadium - while hosting NFL games, concerts by Beyonce, and major boxing events - has seen poor football results. Redknapp's comments reflect growing frustration among fans and pundits alike, who see a club that has lost its footballing identity in pursuit of commercial gain.
