Harry Redknapp hopes Chelsea win the Champions League – even though that could end Tottenham's hopes of qualifying for the competition next season.
Chelsea hold a 1-0 advantage going to Barcelona for the second leg of their semi-final. Should they survive their trip to Camp Nou and win the final, only three, rather than the customary four, English teams will qualify for the Champions League via the Barclays Premier League. Tottenham are currently the fourth-placed team and would miss out in that scenario.
"I'll be rooting for Chelsea," Redknapp said. "I haven't even thought about [missing out if Chelsea win the competition].
"If Chelsea stay in it they've got a Champions League final to prepare for, and then they've got a lot on their plate, haven't they? I want to see an English team win it anyway and I think they can do it."
At the start of 2012, Redknapp would not have been troubled in the debate about the effect Chelsea winning the Champions League. Back then Tottenham were within touching distance of the top of the table, but after a dramatic collapse they find themselves on the brink of dropping out of the race for the Champions League. Having kept pace with the league leaders for so long, many, including midfielder Scott Parker, believe finishing outside the top four would constitute failure, but Redknapp disagrees.
"I don't think it's a failed squad whatever we do," he said. "We're not entitled to be above Chelsea. Look at their bench the other night. They had people like [Fernando] Torres and [Daniel] Sturridge and other top players. I wouldn't say we've got a stronger squad than Chelsea, no way, or a stronger squad than Liverpool, come to that.
"If we finish fourth we'll be delighted and if we finish third it will be even better. I can't fault the effort of the players this year whatever they do."
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