http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/uefa-champions-league/news/1030039/Redknapp-enjoys-moment
3 November 2010-PA Sport
Harry Redknapp hailed Tottenham Hotspur's stunning UEFA Champions League victory over Inter Milan as one of the greatest moments of his career.
Group A: Tottenham 3 Inter Milan 1
Spurs toppled the European champion with an incredible display of attacking football on one of the greatest nights witnessed at White Hart Lane for almost half a century.
And for 63-year-old Redknapp, the result was right up there with anything he had achieved in 27 years of management that includes an FA Cup triumph and numerous promotions.
"For sure, to be involved in that tonight," he said after his side's breathless 3-1 win.
"You have to put in perspective who we're playing against: Inter Milan, the Champions League holders.
"The opposition is top, top class and for us to play like we did tonight against them was a fantastic performance."
Rafael van der Vaart opened the scoring before Peter Crouch made it 2-0. Samuel Eto'o pulled one back to prompt some anxious moments before Roman Pavlyuchenko rounded things off with a third.
Tottenham was magnificent to a man, but Gareth Bale once again stole the show with another jaw-dropping performance less than a fortnight on from his stunning San Siro hat-trick.
So badly did he humiliate the so-called best right-back in the world that, long before the end, the home fans were singing: 'Taxi for Maicon!'
Redknapp joked he hoped Bale passed his post-match drug test, adding: "He was outstanding tonight.
"He's playing against a right-back who before the two games, you would have though nobody could give him a chasing.
"He's rated by many, many people as the best right-back in the world.
"It's like you being a boxer. You might be knocking everybody out and suddenly you come against the champion.
"No disrespect to the right-back but he's given him the most torrid time you could ever wish to see."
But Redknapp was eager to stress the result was not purely down to Bale, who set up two of Spurs' three goals and created numerous other chances.
"He was brilliant but the whole team was brilliant tonight, from Carlo (Cudicini), every one of them," Redknapp said.
"There wasn't one of them tonight who didn't work and do exactly what we asked of them.
"We closed them down, we outplayed them, we outpassed them.
"It was outstanding performance tonight, one of the great nights, I would think, at White Hart Lane that the fans have seen.
"It was a pleasure to be a part of it."
The only sour note for Redknapp was a warning from the Football Association for his attack on referee Mark Clattenburg after last weekend's Premier League defeat at Manchester United.
"I don't think there was any decision to be made," said Redknapp, who escaped a formal punishment.
"I don't know what all the fuss was about.
"I think everybody must've been trying to get me banned.
"I'm glad common sense prevailed."
Redknapp was forced to withdraw the talismanic Van der Vaart at half-time after the midfielder suffered a recurrence of a hamstring strain but the injury is not thought to be serious.
Inter boss Rafael Benitez hinted at his interest in signing Bale after the game.
Club president Massimo Moratti has already revealed the Italians have long admired the 21-year-old.
Asked if Bale would get into his team, Benitez said: "If he plays like today, why not?"
Yet, as in the San Siro two weeks ago, the former Liverpool boss once again felt his side gave Bale too much space.
"I think he was doing well away in the first game and he was doing well today when he had the space," said Benitez, who saw his side slip behind Spurs on goal difference in Group A.
"We knew that if he has the space, it is difficult to stop him because he has pace."
Asked about Bale once again making mincemeat of Maicon, Benitez replied: "Maicon is a very good offensive defender.
"He has more problem when players play like Bale, so we had to help him."
Despite being second best, Inter set up a nervy finish when Eto'o made it 2-1.
"I could see that the team was growing and doing better and, at the end, the third goal changed everything," said Benitez.
That third goal was created by Bale and prompted Inter director Luis Figo to approach Redknapp.
"He said to me, 'Bale is just amazing, amazing'," Redknapp said.
"When Figo says that, it's got to be good, because he was such a fantastic footballer.
"He said, 'He killed us twice'."
Redknapp joked he hoped Bale passed his post-match drug test
