"We've got some tough games, we've a game at Man United that really is so secondary to me now, we're in a relegation battle and I can't risk Jamie O'Hara, Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson at Old Trafford. We need stronger players in here because we're not mentally or physically strong enough, it's a challenge and it can't get any worse. When I took over we had two points from eight games but Stoke is a massive game for us, we’re not taking a reserve team. Everyone who is fit, will play, I didn't know about it and would not want to try and change the traditions of the cup anyway. It's a mish-mash of players with people playing where they want to play. It's scary - I have to go to Old Trafford with that group of players that we had tonight. If Alex is listening, I'm really going to send a real mish-mash team up there. I hope it doesn't upset the fans, but we played extra time and we're out on our feet a little bit. The lads who didn't play tonight will play and I'm going to rest the key players who played tonight because I can't afford to lose any more to injuries. When I took over we had two points from eight games. He's the only goalkeeper I've got and this is a football club that has been put together by I don't know who and I don't know how, I had to play a few lads who hadn't played too much and they didn't do themselves a lot of good really to be honest with you, the players should be fighting for their lives to stay at a great football club like this. Their future is on the line, they need to perform to stay at the club. There's injuries, there's fatigue - we've spent all our resources, if you're Middlesbrough you must be sitting at home and enjoying every minute of this. I thought we were super. It was a great performance and it came down to a lottery in the end, they couldn't beat us in 90 minutes plus extra time, we didn't deserve to lose and I thought we were fantastic. I’ve had to juggle things this week and I’m pleased with how it has gone. When I took over we had two points from eight games. To get a league win at Hull on Monday was a massive result for us. That was the most important game of the week. Whoever heard of teams playing on a Thursday night before a cup final on a Sunday? It’s ludicrous. In the old days, teams used to be able to go to a hotel for two or three days to prepare. Not any more. There’s no time for us to get any rest. The fixture list is crazy. Something has to be done if they don’t want to devalue the Carling Cup. It’s just about winning a trophy. If there was no Europe I wouldn’t be bothered, that is what I said last season with Portsmouth. Portsmouth won't go too far wrong with Paul Hart - he's been excellent, I brought Paul to the club as youth development officer and he's a terrific guy. He knows the game, and he's been a manager. When I took over we had two points from eight games. I hear criticism after not putting my best team out against Shakhtar but Martin O’Neill has left nine out of his Aston Villa team to go to Moscow. He has his priorities right because he wants to finish high in the Premier League. We want to stay in the Premier League so you have to prioritise. Sam Allardyce at Blackburn picked half a team to face Coventry – people don’t understand the job. Going back to Wembley is a big day for the club. You’re playing against the best team in Europe. When I took over we had two points from eight games. Have we got a divine right to have European football? Should we put our best team out and forget about Sunday? We’ve six games in such a short space of time. It makes it very difficult. It’s crazy. When you have a cup final at Wembley, we should be preparing for three or four days. But we’re playing next Thursday night. It’s a nuisance. We are here in the Ukraine now, we get back at 5am on Friday morning, then it’s Hull on Monday night, Shakhtar on Thursday, then the final. Next it’s Wednesday against Middlesbrough and the Saturday against Sunderland. It’s daft the way they have piled up the fixtures. We’ve given it an honest go in each round of the UEFA Cup. We were struggling to qualify for the knockout stage when I got to the club. The league position is the problem. If we were sitting in the top half, we’d be putting everything into getting this result here. When I took over we had two points from eight games. Three teams going through the league system into the knockout stage is mad. I would just like to see a home and away knockout. I've got no time really for drinking in football. I don't see any reason why footballers should have a drink. At West Ham I made it no-alcohol-allowed in the players' bar when I took over as manager. We prepared right for Sunday’s final. No-one was even allowed to look at a glass of wine. Players should be totally dedicated. Would I have let them go out and have a blow-out if we’d won? No. When I took over we had two points from eight games. I couldn't sit here and pick who will go, it's so difficult to choose, isn't it? Stoke are going to win games at home. They've picked up a point after being 2-0 down with two minutes to go. Blackburn go and win at Hull. Everyone is fighting for their lives. With so many teams involved, it is definitely the tightest I can remember. Other years it's three from five or four, this year it's three from 10. I don't look at the fixture list and think that we have this and that team. They are all hard games but we can beat anyone on our day. It is catching teams right. No disrespect to Middlesbrough, but it was a nice time to play Liverpool on Saturday after Real Madrid. Could you have played them after a better time? You will find that happens now. It happened to me at Portsmouth when we had the luck of the draw, playing Arsenal, who had a Champions League match before and after and they had three or four best players missing. Manchester United might have won the League and you end up playing them the week before a Champions League semi final. It is all part of the luck of the draw and it can make a big difference. It is a juggling act and I need to keep them sharp, we are in a relegation battle and the fixture list is crazy. If we were sitting in the top half we’d be putting everything into getting this result. When I took over we had two points from eight games. We will find out whether the kids are as good as everyone tells me. Dos Santos came for big money and a big reputation and I have not seen him. They have got a big chance — they are the team to beat for sure. They have a fantastic squad. They have one cup already, it looks as if the League is going their way for sure and you wouldn’t bet against them in the Champions League and the FA Cup. When I took over we had two points from eight games…”
Harry Redknapp was talking to anyone and everyone about anything and everything…
Postscript: Harryvison - “No wonder ‘e’s in the fakkin reserves…”
