Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp on the touchline

Harry Redknapp tried to play down talk of repeating the club’s fourth place finish next season, citing the competition from other clubs

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes that it will be even harder to finish fourth in the coming years.

The north London club finished above Chelsea, who finished outside the top four for the first time under Roman Abramovich.

“When we finished fourth (in 2010) Man City were just arriving. It is going to be even more difficult next year,” Redknapp said.

“Man United and Man City are not going to be out of the top four: that’s impossible. So you are looking for two places. Chelsea, I don’t think Mr Abramovich will stand for them finishing outside the top four again.

“So suddenly there is Arsenal, us, Liverpool, Newcastle all scrapping and who knows a Russian could come along and buy someone like Wigan and then they will be pushing for the league - that’s how it works isn’t it?”