Former Premier League midfielder Sandro has hailed former boss Harry Redknapp as one of the top three managers of his career and argued that he would have been the perfect man to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in an exclusive interview with BOYLE Sports .
Sandro has offered his perspective on all things Tottenham, arguing that Xavi Simons made the correct call to sign for his former club, predicts their upcoming matches as well as whether they can still make a claim for the Top Six.
He has also offered his perspective on Scottish Football and revealed the club he could've signed for in Scotland, has given his thoughts on if Guimarães could sign for Real Madrid while also pleading with Vinicius Jnr to put the Real Madrid drama behind him to preserve his Ballon d'Or prospects.
Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp "One of The Greats"
Harry is exactly as Modric said, one of the greatest managers. Harry was always so comfortable in the dressing room and with managing the players. Sometimes he would shout at you, but another time he would be so warm and friendly, and he just knew the way to talk with the players. We would fight sometimes, but after it would be OK, and I think he managed that team very, very well.
Harry is in the top three managers of my career. I had De Zerbi, who was the coach at Brighton, and I had Tite at the national team in the Brazil national team. He was the one that bought me in from the academy and put me into the team. But it wasn’t just Harry. He had good guys around him as well. Kevin Bones, Joe Jordan and Clive Allen. He built a good team around himself.
I will say that Harry was one of the best to play guys and just tell them to go out and express themselves, and I think we need more of that type of manager today. I think football is changing. I don’t like the managers who set too many rules on the pitch. Football is not about all these systems saying no, you cannot cross this line, or you must be here or there. You should enjoy it, express yourself. Be safe in some areas, but just play football!
I think we need to bring back the Number 10s. It would make it more beautiful again.
Could Harry Have Fixed United?
Could Harry Redknapp have fixed Manchester United’s problem after Sir Alex? Yes, 100%.
They managed in the same kind of way. A big image, a big impact in the dressing room, and you need to have that. When you speak, players listen. Everybody respected Harry, but you could also have a joke with him, and he would make everybody laugh, too. Harry could talk well to the media, but also, his tactics were good, and he could change things during a match on the pitch, too. He was a manager that could do everything.
I remember, when I arrived in England, I was on the bench and at half-time Harry took a player off. In Brazil, this is deeply disrespectful to a player, to take them off at the break, but Harry was not afraid. He told the guys we’re not having a good game, sorry, but I'm changing the team, and I need to change it. I am doing this for the team. He was a coach who would make the big decisions. And we won that game. I liked it.
He would come and talk to you as a player. You have to have that. I remember he would say to me, “Sorry, Sandro, you’re going to play the next game. I will play you.” That’s how you manage players. If you give a player something like that, the player will let you do something else.
I completely agree that Harry Redknapp could have done a good job at Manchester United because he had the right style of management. Their fans want to play and attack. Harry would play that way with good tactics in a back four. We were always balanced at Tottenham. Teams need to have that balance. Attack and defend. We were a team. Not two teams.
Would Harry Redknapp Have Been A Success At Man United?
Tottenham
Was Xavi Right To Chose Tottenham?
Did Xavi make the right decision to come to Tottenham instead of Chelsea, Liverpool or United? Yes, because Tottenham is a beautiful club for letting guys express themselves. I’ll give you an example. Look at Rafael van der Vaart. He came to Tottenham and exploded in the Premier League.
I think right now Tottenham are not playing to suit Xavi’s style yet, so that is unlucky for him, but if he finds his consistency, starts playing better, everybody will be playing better. I think he can have that effect with his style of play.
Prediction: Crystal Palace vs Tottenham
Palace are going good. I think if Tottenham draw this one, it will be a good result. I think I will go 2-2. I want Xavi to express himself, to get that confidence, to break through the lines. I think he didn't make his breakthrough yet. I want him to score and assist more because he is going to key for us because when Tottenham are attacking, we are not quite right. Is Xavi more of a Dele Alli type player? I think so because if you’re expecting a playmaker, he’s not that kind of player. He is small like Modric, but his game is arriving late into the box.
I would like to see him take more control of his position, having more of the ball to feet, not trying to dribble around people, because I was a midfielder, and I would have loved to take the ball away from him. Premier League midfielders are not scared of people trying to dribble at them, but if you pass and go to receive it, you’re gone.
I think he needs to adapt more to that kind of pass and go, pass and go, and arrive late in the box to attack those balls played inside. He needs consistency and goals.
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Match Result – PL 25/26
Prediction: Brentford vs Tottenham
I think this one will be a win for us. Of course, Thomas Frank knows the place. He knows Brentford very well. I think it will be 2-1 to Tottenham.
Brentford v Tottenham Match Result – PL 25/26
Season Predictions
Top Four Race
It is always December to February. These are big games now if you can go on a good run. It’s tough in the moment. I played in this period, and there are always so many games, but if you don’t pick up the points, then it gets even harder, and in April, you are left saying Oh my god.
Top Six Prediction
Arsenal won’t make it, so Manchester City to finish in first. Arsenal second. I think Aston Villa are going to drop off. Chelsea third, then Aston Villa fourth. Liverpool fifth.
Where Will Tottenham Finish
Maddison and Kulusevski will give comfort to Tottenham’s midfielders and the attack. With those two guys, we have good potential to be hunting for a higher finish, but with injuries, there will always be another injury to someone else, so I don’t know.
Scottish Football
Ange Not Returning To Celtic?
In football, we always see it with Harry Redknapp, with Mauricio Pochettino, we always want them to come back, but sometimes it’s difficult.
I don’t know if the relationship with the club is the same anymore or what they are thinking for the future, but it’s normal thinking in football. A coach leaves, a new coach comes in, and I’m sure they still have big respect for Ange as he won there as well, but maybe you don’t go back.
Wilfried Nancy
It’s unfair. I think to be the manager, it doesn’t matter if you came from Japan, Portugal or America or anywhere. It doesn’t matter what league you came from. If you are a good manager, you talk well, you can send the message to your players, and you have the quality to understand the game, it doesn’t matter.
Look at the previous coach of England, Gareth Southgate. He came from the youth team. It doesn’t matter. It is an opportunity for whoever is ready to shine. The reaction to Nancy is unfair.
Did you ever get an offer to play for Celtic or Rangers?
Celtic wanted to sign me. I was coming back from injury, and they were thinking that Spurs would let me leave on loan, but in the end, Spurs wouldn't let me go. But I heard about the conversation, and I looked at it, and I tried to understand the club a little, but because it’s huge.
I would have said wow to the Old Firm rivalry, too. It’s crazy. I would have loved to play in those games because of the way I always played when I put on the jersey. I would love it like that, crazy.
Real Madrid
Guimarães To Real Madrid?
Bruno Guimarães is a top-quality player. His consistency is just wow. But I think he loves being at Newcastle. I think he will say no; I don't want to go. I tell you that 100% because of the connection that he has with the city. I love the way he has connected with the people and the city of Newcastle. This is what football is all about. It’s about your love for the game and your love for the fans because you are with the fans.
I always tried to do that at Spurs. I always love to be around the fans and to speak to them and give them proper time, and Bruno’s like that.
I think Bruno will say, “No, I'm fine here. I'm the captain here. I belong to the city, and I will applaud him for it. Of course, Real Madrid are a club everyone wants to go to, but I will say that Bruno will stay because I think for him it is about legacy, and I love it.
Would Guimarães suit Real Madrid?
Real Madrid Dressing Room Fallout
Will Vinicius Jnr or Xabi Alonso need to leave Real Madrid? No, I think they can both stay and go on a good run of results together. I didn’t agree with what Vinicius did, and then Alonso was taking him out, but this is normal. Vinicius just needs to focus on Real Madrid. Do not do what Neymar did at Barcelona and leave. Don’t do it, please!
In Brazil, we say you need to try and stay tranquil. Calm down. Vinicius has this face on him, but this can just be a moment. It’s nothing. It’s not a problem. Being an ex-footballer now, I have to give some advice. You have to breathe before you look to leave.
I left Tottenham. I thought I wanted to leave because I was fighting the coaches and I rushed things, but man, I loved it at Tottenham. Why did I leave? I had a three-year contract. Why was I in such a rush? Vinicius, please take a breath. This is so important in life as well, but especially for footballers. We have so many people around us telling the player you should leave, the coach doesn’t respect you, but come on.
Vini’s Ballon D’Or Prospects
Would Vinicius Jnr’s career suffer if he left Real Madrid now? 100%. The comparison with Neymar leaving Barcelona is beautiful. I still don’t understand why Neymar left Barcelona. Why, Neymar? Why? Please tell us why.
When he left, I started to pray. It’s easy to say now, but I said at the time Why are you going to leave Barcelona in your best moment because I love Neymar, and for the first time I saw Lionel Messi giving Neymar the ball in the difficult moments. I was watching Barcelona all the time, and everybody passed Messi the ball, but in that game against PSG, when Messi is giving you the ball to say, Neymar, you do your magic, wow!
Imagine you are Neymar. You are on a good run. Now, Messi, and he did in a very humble and good way, is saying that he needs you, and you’re going to leave? No, I think that was one of the biggest mistakes in all of football. Neymar could have stayed at Barcelona and won three or four Ballon d’Or trophies. So Vinicius, please, calm. Tranquil. Breathe.
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