Harry Redknapp believes Manchester City have a better
squad than Barcelona.
The Tottenham manager claims the club he will be trying to beat
at White Hart Lane on Sunday has greater depth than the one that's
shaping up to become the best in football history after winning
last season's European Cup.
“I would say their squad is stronger than Barcelona’s, yes," he
said. "It's an amazing squad they’ve gone for there.
The White Hart Lane chief also predicted Carlos Tevez would
regret it if he gets his wish to leave the Etihad Stadium and
claimed Samir Nasri joined City for the cash on offer, despite the
player's denials.
But it is Redknapp's belief that Mancini’s squad is
nearly-invincible that summed up the task facing Spurs this
weekend.
“To bring in players like they have - Aguero, Tevez, Dzeko - is
incredible," he said.
"Look at that strike force. It’s an unbelieveable goal-scoring
forward line - one that could absolutely whip anybody on their
day.
“David Silva is world class and could play in any team in the
world right now.
"Their squad is full of quality now. Look at De Jong, Yaya
Toure. They have people like James Milner struggling to get in the
team and Adam Johnson, you just don’t see [him] playing any
more.
“Its an amazing squad. I think they will eventually be
challenging for everything, because they have the resources to keep
bringing in the best players in the world.
“Eventually, if the owner stays with the club - which I am sure
he will do - they will win the Premier League.
“[Tevez] will find it hard leaving there. Unless you go to
Barcelona or Real Madrid, I couldn’t see where you would want to go
other than Manchester City.
“He has been at Manchester United [so] isn’t going to go back
there. I can’t see anywhere he can go where he is going to better
his football."
Redknapp believes he succeeded with a loan bid for City striker
Emmanuel Adebayor - who cannot play in Sunday's game against his
parent club - because the Blues are sure they are nailed-on for a
top-four finish.
He said: “They probably don’t see us a threat any more! The days
of them worrying about being in the top four are gone. They are now
looking at winning the Championship. That’s how strong they
are.
“They are not worried about battling away for the top four spot.
If they don’t make the top four, it will be a
miracle.”
Redknapp believes the Citizens’ moves for Nasri and, earlier in
the summer, his Arsenal team-mate Gael Clichy, illustrate a
spending power few can compete with.
He went on: “They’re a more powerful club, yeah. Because, at the
end of the day, they can pay wages that Arsenal can’t pay. That’s
your problem.
“If they [City] are interested, it’s a dream move for a player
to suddenly go and get £200,000 a week for five years. They haven’t
got to worry too much after that, have they?”
“I don’t believe [Nasri, who
refuted the suggestion he moved for financial than than footballing
reasons ], no. He could have gone to Manchester United. They
wanted him and he wanted to go to United, really - that’s what I
heard.
“But then City came in and offered him more money again, so he
went to City.
“I wouldn’t see Chelsea being powerless. They’re mega-rich, with
Mr Abramovich there. But then they nearly lost John Terry the other
year, didn’t they, to City?
“Whatever anyone says, I’m sure John was thinking about it,
because it was such an offer.
“So yeah, if they come in and make a crazy offer and offer your
player crazy-money, it’s very difficult for the player not to have
his head turned.”