Redknapp tells Spurs to ease Nani pain by beating Inter

Harry Redknapp wants Tottenham to take out their frustrations on Inter Milan in Tuesday’s Champions League clash as the row rumbles on over Nani’s controversial goal against his team.

Redknapp could face an FA investigation after his comments about referee Mark Clattenburg in the aftermath of Tottenham’s 2-0 defeat against Manchester United on Saturday.

The Spurs boss was furious Clattenburg allowed Nani to tap into an empty net while goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes prepared to take what he thought was a free-kick in the closing minutes at Old Trafford.

Nani’s cheeky goal left Redknapp ranting: “The officials will come up with a story that will make it look right. That’s the way it happens. He made a cock-up, but he’ll come up with some excuse.

“Mark Clattenburg is a top referee but he’s had a nightmare with that. It was a scandalous decision.”

While Redknapp had a genuine grievance as he raged over the most bizarre goals of the season, he knows his anger could also stoke up his players ahead of their crucial showdown with European champions Inter at White Hart Lane.

Spurs go into the Group A game three points adrift of Inter following a 4-3 defeat at the San Siro 11 days ago.

Redknapp’s second placed side are still two points clear of Werder Bremen and FC Twente and a win over Rafael Benitez’s side would go along way to booking their place in the knockout stages.

However, should defending champions Inter win and all but seal their own progress, the Italians may see fit to rest players for their final two group matches against Bremen and Twente.

And if Bremen beat Twente on Tuesday, the Germans would then be in pole position to join Inter in the last 16.

Redknapp said: “We need some points, I think, because Werder Bremen play Twente and could beat Twente. It’s massive for us to get something out of the game.”

After 50 years away from Europe’s elite club competition, the visit of the Italian champions is exactly the kind of glamour fixture that Tottenham were hoping for when they qualified for the tournament.

But to make sure it is a memorable occasion, Redknapp will need a far more solid display from his defence, which crumbled in the face of Inter’s early pressure in Milan.

Only a sensational hat-trick from Gareth Bale eased Tottenham’s embarrassment at their first-half display, but Redknapp expects the Inter to play a more cautious counter-attacking game in north London.

“We’re at home but they’ll be hard to beat on Tuesday,” Redknapp said.

“I saw them at Chelsea last year and saw them go and shut Chelsea down and knock Chelsea out.

“Italian teams, they know how to go away from home and be difficult to beat.”

However, Inter suffered a double injury blow over the weekend as both Esteban Cambiasso and Julio Cesar were ruled out after suffering hamstring injuries in Friday’s 1-0 win at Genoa.

It means reserve goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi will replace Cesar, while Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari is likely to come in for Cambiasso.

Former Liverpool manager Benitez won’t make any special plans to subdue Wales midfielder Bale and is confident of claiming another win.

“Bale isn’t unstoppable. We conceded goals because we relaxed when we were 4-0 ahead, thinking of the next game,” Benitez said.

“The first half was very different from the second half, a totally different game, but we’d already done enough to win. We won’t relax in the game in London.

“We know what we have to do and we’ll make sure we play well enough to get a good result.”