Redknapp focuses on third place

[DexteR]

Harry Redknapp has admitted that Tottenham's defeats by Arsenal and Manchester United have opened the door to the Gunners and perhaps even Chelsea in the race for a third-place finish in the Premier League.

Spurs were 10 points clear of Arsenal ahead of the North London derby on February 26 and still in the hunt for the Premier League title, but a stirring fightback from Arsene Wenger's side at the Emirates ended any hopes of a title tilt.

Robin van Persie's two strikes against Liverpool closed the gap to four points before Redknapp failed to lead Spurs to a first league win against United since 2001 on Sunday.

Despite losing to West Brom on Saturday, Chelsea are only three points behind Arsenal and seven adrift of Tottenham with 11 games remaining. And the Spurs manager hopes the psychological impact of a tough run of results doesn't take its toll on his players.

"They were important games," said Redknapp. "We knew going to Arsenal that we really needed something from that game to keep Arsenal 10 points behind us but they won the game so that becomes seven.

"Last weekend I watched the Liverpool game - I thought Liverpool were fantastic and in all honesty should have beaten Arsenal comfortably, but they got the goal in the last minute, win the game, and we come back and get beat by United and suddenly it's four points.

"We wouldn't write Chelsea off as well - it could all change. I said all along, ten points, seven points, four points - but I'd still rather be four points in front than four points behind. It's up to us to maintain that now."

Spurs remain in pole position for their highest finish in the Premier League since its inception and a return to the Champions League next season, a feat that Redknapp would regard as one of the crowning achievements of his career.

"It would be fantastic. That top six this year, including Liverpool, when you looked at the league at the start of the year you knew just how tough it was going to be to make the top four. It was real task. We're in a good position at the moment and we're going to try to finish the job now. There's no reason we can't do that."

[ch kashif]

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