HARRY REDKNAPP SAYS his players have to put Fabrice Muamba’s cardiac arrest behind them as they prepare to play Stoke on Wednesday.
Spurs were playing against Bolton in an FA Cup quarter-final tie on Saturday when the midfielder collapsed near the half-way line. The 23-year-old is now making small signs of recovery after being taken to hospital.
Both sets of players were in obvious distress after witnessing Muamba’s collapse and subsequent treatment, which included CPR and the use of a defibrillator, as doctors worked relentlessly to restart the former England Under-21 international’s heart.
Bolton’s game with Aston Villa has already been called off, with Owen Coyle and his team not in the right frame of mind to focus on football, but Redknapp insisted his outfit need to get back to playing.
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”Will I give them the option of not playing? No, they need to play,” Redknapp said.
“I think they are okay, we tried to have a bright morning, upbeat rather than too serious in training, to get them all going again.
“The best thing for them is to get back on the pitch and play, for sure.”
Redknapp revealed that Stoke boss Tony Pulis had been in touch to offer to postpone their game, but the former Portsmouth boss believes his players will be ready.
“Tony (Pulis) rang me this morning and he was great,” Redknapp said.
“He said: ‘Look Harry, if you feel your players aren’t ready to play then whatever you want to do, Stoke City will back you.’
“That was great for him to ring but we have to play. I can understand why Bolton are not playing tomorrow because their players are very close to Fabrice, but we just really have to get on with it as best we can.
Redknapp turns down Stoke's offer to postpone midweek clash
HARRY REDKNAPP SAYS his players have to put Fabrice Muamba’s cardiac arrest behind them as they prepare to play Stoke on Wednesday.
Spurs were playing against Bolton in an FA Cup quarter-final tie on Saturday when the midfielder collapsed near the half-way line. The 23-year-old is now making small signs of recovery after being taken to hospital.
Both sets of players were in obvious distress after witnessing Muamba’s collapse and subsequent treatment, which included CPR and the use of a defibrillator, as doctors worked relentlessly to restart the former England Under-21 international’s heart.
Bolton’s game with Aston Villa has already been called off, with Owen Coyle and his team not in the right frame of mind to focus on football, but Redknapp insisted his outfit need to get back to playing.
”Will I give them the option of not playing? No, they need to play,” Redknapp said.
“I think they are okay, we tried to have a bright morning, upbeat rather than too serious in training, to get them all going again.
Redknapp revealed that Stoke boss Tony Pulis had been in touch to offer to postpone their game, but the former Portsmouth boss believes his players will be ready.
“Tony (Pulis) rang me this morning and he was great,” Redknapp said.
“He said: ‘Look Harry, if you feel your players aren’t ready to play then whatever you want to do, Stoke City will back you.’
“We will be ready to play on Wednesday.”
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