SoccerNews.com

Harry Redknapp again defended resting his first-team players after Tottenham bowed out of the Uefa Cup with a 1-1 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Defending his team selection, Redknapp said: “Who am I supposed to play? I must be in the wrong game if I’m meant to play a first team three days before the cup final.”

Particularly impressive was 18-year-old Jonathan Obika, who was given his first start and almost scored twice in the first half. “He was happy, apart from when I called him John Ukata,” Redknapp said. “Other than that he was fine”. Redknapp praised Giovani’s goal, saying: “It was a good finish, he took it very well.”

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