Harry Redknapp proud of Tottenham's campaign
Last updated on .From the section Football
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp insists this season ranks among the club's best ever despite failing to repeat their Champions League qualification.
A 1-0 defeat at Manchester City on Tuesday ended Spurs' bid to finish in the top four, but Redknapp said: "It's been a fantastic year, one of the best Spurs have had since I don't know when.
"We were in the last eight of the Champions League and were pushing to finish in the top four all season.
"We've done better than last year."
Tottenham earned plaudits across Europe for their attacking displays in the Champions League, including wins over Inter Milan and new Serie A champions AC Milan, before Real Madrid ended their journey with a 5-0 aggregate win in the quarter-finals.
Still, some fans have voiced their anger at the end-of-season slump that has seen the club slip out of contention for a top-four finish.
Tottenham are currently sixth in the Premier League, two points behind Liverpool who occupy the Europa League berth, with two games remaining.
But Redknapp remains defiant, while admitting the challenge of claiming a place among Europe's elite will only become greater and accepts Spurs must sign new players if they are to remain in contention.
"It's tough to get into that top four and it's getting tougher all the time," he said.
"We need to keep looking [for players] and I'm off to watch games tomorrow, everybody's out and about working for me watching games.
"We need to improve a little bit again if we want to keep pushing, and that's the challenge for next season."
One thing that is not part of Redknapp's plans, however, is selling his best players.
The likes of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric have been linked with big-money moves away from White Hart Lane, but Redknapp said: "It won't be hard to keep hold of the players we have now - we never had Champions League football before.
"In the past, players haven't signed for us because we're in the Champions League.
"If people want to leave it's up to them, we can find other players. There are plenty of other players about."
