Redknapp 'kicks-off' over Tottenham's fixture congestion

Harry Redknapp is fuming over Tottenham's fixture congestion and the logic of an international week before the season.

Redknapp will lose the majority of his squad for the week in the build-up to Tottenham's Premier League opener against Manchester City on August 14 due to international fixtures on August 11, when England play Hungary.

Spurs will then face a Champions League qualifier in mid-August and their manager is less than impressed with the overload in matches.

"It's crazy," he told a press conference after the defeat to Villarreal.

"We pile more games in. The last thing we need really is to be playing games.

"We need to train. I need to get the players on the training pitch because all we do is play and recover.

"I didn't want this game tonight. Too many games have been scheduled and it's a problem."

He added: "Can someone tell me why we have an international week on the week of the season starting?

"They have just been away as a group together to the World Cup. They have come home, they're probably sick of the sight of each other.

"Now they are going to have an international week before we play the first game of the season and then we play a Champions League qualifier.

"I won't see those players from the Saturday night until the Friday before we play Manchester City. I won't see them once, not once.

"How can that be a way to prepare for the start of the season?"
Redknapp continued: "There will probably be one or two players left at the training ground for the whole week before we play Manchester City.

"Why? What is the point in it? A meaningless (international) friendly for what reason?"

 
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