Harry Redknapp issues player challenge

On November 26, 2012

New QPR manager Harry Redknapp has left his players in no doubt as to what he expects of them for the rest of the season.

Redknapp takes charge of a side rooted to the bottom of the table with four points from 13 games, and which is now 4/6 to be relegated.

If the players try as hard as I am going to try we’ll be successful.

Harry Redknapp

“We’ve got to do better to give ourselves any chance of getting out of this mess,” the 65-year-old told the press on Monday morning.

“I need 11 people with ability to put effort in. If they don’t they’re not going to play and I’ll get 11 who do.

“I’m looking for people to graft and work.

“I’ve got no time for people who lose the ball and throw their hands up in the air or stand around with their hands on their hips. We are in a relegation battle.”

Redknapp replaces Mark Hughes with the club in a perilous position and believes saving the Hoops from relegation could be his toughest challenge yet. He saved Portsmouth from the drop and turned around the fortunes of Tottenham, taking them from the lower reaches of the Premier League to Champions League qualification, but admits the task at QPR is a difficult one.

Rangers travel to Sunderland on Tuesday evening and are 11/4 to keep a clean sheet, and 17/2 to pull off a 1-0 win.

“We mustn’t kid ourselves,” added Redknapp. “This is much tougher than those two jobs [Portsmouth and Tottenham] in my opinion, but I’m optimistic we can pull it off.

“If the players try as hard as I am going to try we’ll be successful.”

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