Harry Redknapp Doesn't Care About the Europa League

Last season's European adventure was memorable for Tottenham Hotspur. Their first ever Champions League campaign was a moderate success, the high point being victory over AC Milan in the knockout stages.

Unfortunately for Spurs, last season their league position meant they didn't qualify for the Champions League; they had to make do with the slightly less glamorous Europa League. The Europa League doesn't have quite the same exposure or riches as its bigger brother, the Champions League. 

Another factor against the Europa League is that all the matches are played on a Thursday evening, which means teams competing will have to rush back from their matches, sometimes on the farthest side of Europe, to get back in plenty time for their league match on Sunday.

This doesn't sit well with Harry Redknapp, who openly admits that the league and finishing fourth or better to obtain a Champions League place, is this season's priority. 

In reference to Spurs' away game against Greek side PAOK Salonika earlier this month, he told BBC Sport that it was "a nuisance," adding that his players had "played two internationals and [he had] to take them out to Greece for Thursday, come back Friday and play Liverpool on Sunday. [He wants] to save them for Sunday." This has been evidenced so far with the Europa League fixtures being played with a mix of reserves and youth players with a few first-team players thrown in for good measure.

In fairness to Redknapp, he does have several major injuries at the moment, and if he sees the league as the main priority, he will not risk the fit players he has on a competition he has no care for. It is a shame for the Spurs fans to know that they will probably not progress much further in the competition, despite the fact that the squad could probably win it.

It is also a shame that these days that clubs favor league places and the cash bonuses they offer over cup competitions and potential glory. Redknapp knows that the battle for a Top Four place will be tough this season, with Spurs competing with both Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and several outsiders for those illustrious Champions League places.

Will this strategy pay off? Only time will tell.