‘I felt like crying,’ admits former Tottenham boss.
Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has revealed he ‘felt like crying’ after witnessing Chelsea win the 2012 Champions League final.
The Blues victory on penalties over Bayern Munich ensured they qualified for the 2012/13 Champions League at the expense of Redknapp’s Tottenham, despite finishing two points and two places below fourth-place Spurs in the Premier League.
In his autobiography, serialised in the Daily Mail, Redknapp, 66, says he watched the final live at Bayern’s Allianz Arena after being invited by his son Jamie, a pundit for Sky Sports.
“I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life the night I went to watch Chelsea win the 2012 Champions League final,” Redknapp admitted.
“You all know what happened. Chelsea were outplayed by Bayern Munich — as they had been by Barcelona and by Napoli in previous rounds — but they won the trophy.
“It meant Spurs hadn’t qualified for the following season’s Champions League, despite finishing fourth — two points above Chelsea in the Premier League. They took our place as holders. I was distraught. I felt like crying.
“Jamie invited me over — he said Sky had a box at the game and I should go as his guest.
“Ruud Gullit was there and was carrying on right in front of me like a lunatic. He had nothing riding on the game — Chelsea had sacked him, for heaven’s sake — but he didn’t care.
“Ruud was jumping around, cheering, singing, banging on the windows to draw the attention of the Chelsea players — and, when they looked up, in the background was me, feeling probably at my lowest as a football manager.
“In the end, I think Jamie got quite upset on my behalf. ‘Ruud, do us a favour, they sacked you, didn’t they?’ he said to him. ‘Ah, yes, but that was different people,’ said Ruud and then carried on oblivious.”
“I felt embarrassed, really, as if I was spoiling the party, but I still think his behaviour was over the top.”
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