Harry Redknapp, left, should have defended Aaron Lennon’s absence from Tuesday’s mauling at Real Madrid, instead of trying to make the Tottenham winger a scapegoat, says our columnist.
Harry Redknapp, left, should have defended Aaron Lennon’s absence from Tuesday’s mauling at Real Madrid, instead of trying to make the Tottenham winger a scapegoat, says our columnist.
Harry Redknapp, left, should have defended Aaron Lennon’s absence from Tuesday’s mauling at Real Madrid, instead of trying to make the Tottenham winger a scapegoat, says our columnist.
Harry Redknapp, left, should have defended Aaron Lennon’s absence from Tuesday’s mauling at Real Madrid, instead of trying to make the Tottenham winger a scapegoat, says our columnist.

Redknapp wrong to deflect blame of Tottenham defeat on Lennon injury


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I didn't like Harry Redknapp insinuating that Aaron Lennon had bottled it by pulling out of Tottenham Hotspur's game against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

But that's Harry, for you. If he can deflect blame elsewhere he will, but Spurs knew Lennon wasn't well on Sunday; that's why he was prescribed a course of antibiotics.

Good on Lennon for coming out and defending himself. A manager should defend his own player, not spin against him.

Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson's support of Wayne Rooney has been unwavering, but Wayne doesn't always help himself. I just don't understand: why is he so angry? His two-game ban is harsh and Manchester United will miss him as he is playing well.

On the field, it has been a great week of Champions League football, hasn't it?

Tottenham have enjoyed a far better-than-expected first run in the competition, but they will not be going any further after being crushed by Real Madrid. Peter Crouch was a little silly to get sent off so early in the game after two lunges and his side suffered accordingly.

It's hard enough playing at the Bernabeu with 11 men, let alone 10. It's such an intimidating place to go as a visiting player because of the size, reputation and the quality of players you always face there.

Tottenham were taken apart, but Schalke look set to join Real in the last four after scoring five in Milan against the holders Inter. The Germans have been poor in their own domestic Bundesliga but superb in Europe, with the Spanish forward Raul's experience vital.

I was surprised when he went there and thought he could say goodbye to adding any more European goals, but he's proved me wrong. German teams should never be underestimated; you only have to see their national sides to appreciate the quality of their players.

Manchester United or Chelsea will play them, but they should not underestimate them. When I was at United we met Schalke's rivals, Borussia Dortmund, in the 1997 Champions League semi-final. We were favourites. We went out.

Scoring five in the quarter-finals of the Champions League as Schalke did is rare … unless Barcelona are playing at home.

Real can win the tournament for a 10th time, but they will have to overcome Barcelona in the semi-finals, assuming Spurs are unable to pull off a shock comeback in the return leg against Jose Mourinho's side at White Hart Lane.

The Catalans are the best team in the world. They swatted Shakhtar Donetsk away like an annoying fly, their attacking play spectacular as ever. Any team who beats Barca will win that tournament. If Real can't do it in what will be such a huge semi-final, then I think Manchester United or Chelsea will provide the greatest challenge.

United had a great win at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, but the tie is far from over. United were holding on at the end of the game with Edwin van der Sar making a great save from Fernando Torres. Patrice Evra cleared another Chelsea effort off the line before half time, and Carlo Ancelotti's side will argue they were denied a stonewall penalty when Evra's heavy challenge brought Ramires down in the penalty area, but United held out.

Chelsea can win at Old Trafford, as they did last season, but things are coming good at the right time for United. They have very difficult games every week and none will be tougher than the FA Cup semi-final next week against Manchester City, minus the suspended Rooney. City really are due a win against United, but when I watched United roar back from 2-0 down to beat West Ham United 4-2 last weekend, I thought that I was watching the English champions.

United have benefited from Arsenal dropping far too many points and they don't have the backbone to stay with United until the end of the season.

Don't be surprised if they end up finishing third or fourth. They look very disenchanted at the moment, the opposite of United. My old gaffer [Ferguson] has been in this situation many, many times before, but even he needs luck.

When United reached the Champions League final in Moscow three years ago they didn't have a single injury. United were carrying several injuries two weeks ago, but most of the key players, such as Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, have come back just when they are needed.

I've heard talk of United winning the treble, but I would be made up if United won two trophies.

I've been there, I know how tough it is to win a treble and you need lots of luck. It's a cliche, but the gaffer will be taking every game as it comes. Players will be ultra professional and he won't hear any talk of trophies in the dressing room.

I've also seen fans say that United have been far from vintage this season and that's fair comment. But football is about getting results and winning, and that's what United have been very good at doing.

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Results

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,200m, Winner: ES Rubban, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Al Mobher, Sczcepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: Jabalini, Tadhg O’Shea, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami

6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m, Winner: AF Abahe, Tadgh O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: AF Makerah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m, Winner: Law Of Peace, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'

Director:Michael Lehmann

Stars:Kristen Bell

Rating: 1/5

RESULT

Huddersfield Town 2 Manchester United 1
Huddersfield: Mooy (28'), Depoitre (33')
Manchester United: Rashford (78')

 

Man of the Match: Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town)

Cinco in numbers

Dh3.7 million

The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown

46

The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.

1,000

The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]

50

How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday

3,000

The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

1.1 million

The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.

Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”