Joe Jordan insists Tottenham’s poor performance against Watford last weekend was not due to Harry Redknapp’s absence from training.
Tottenham manager Redknapp is on trial on two charges of tax evasion. He denies both charges.
Redknapp was absent from training all last week and the team put on a shoddy performance on his return to the dugout, edging past npower Championship side Watford to make the fifth round of the FA Cup on Friday night.
Some have suggested that the 64-year-old’s inability to train his players had led to their poor performance but first-team coach Jordan disagrees.
“No, I think that is wrong,” Jordan said.
“You have an opposition there in Watford who deserve a lot more credit. I thought they were excellent and they will be disappointed they didn’t get something.
“It wasn’t a good performance but we won the game.”
Jordan, who has been taking training along with Clive Allen and Kevin Bond, confirmed that Redknapp will be in the dugout for Tuesday’s English Premier League game against Wigan at White Hart Lane.
He insists the squad and the coaching staff have been coping well without the manager.
“We talk to Harry on a regular basis. We’ll speak to him today to give him an update on what’s happening after training,” the Scot said.
“He will arrive at the ground around three-and-a-quarter hours before the kick-off …for the pre-match preparation, as he would with any midweek game.
“We will have a bite to eat and then go back to the manager’s office to talk about the game plan.”
If the trial runs into next week, Redknapp could be forced to miss Monday night’s crucial Premier League game at Liverpool but talks have not taken place within the club as yet regarding what would happen in that scenario.
“We have only spoken about Wigan and we won’t go any further until the Wigan game is done,” Jordan said.
Spurs have a good opportunity to return to winning ways in the league on Tuesday when they take on bottom side Wigan at White Hart Lane.
A defeat at the Etihad Stadium and a draw against Wolves have left Spurs eight points behind leaders Manchester City.
The third-placed Londoners are now 25-1 shots with some bookmakers for a tilt at their first title since 1961.
Jordan admits second-place Manchester United are better equipped to challenge City for the title this term but refused to rule his team out of contention.
Jordan, a former United player, said: “Tottenham and City won their last championship in the 1960s so it goes without saying it’s harder to win it. United and Chelsea in recent years have proved they are champions and know how to do it.
“United, who have come in for a bit of criticism, are where they are not just because they have quality players, they have the knowledge of how to maintain the consistency.
“They can look back many times and know they have done it. That comes by having success in winning a championship.
“City haven’t done it since the 1960s, neither have Spurs, so it’s fair comment for people to question whether you can sustain it. We have dropped points but we have to accept it, get the results and get the consistency.”
Traditionally an active club in the transfer market, Spurs’ only acquisition this month has been the permanent transfer of Juventus loanee Yago Falque.
Up to eight fringe players, including the likes of Sebastien Bassong, Heurelho Gomes and Giovani Dos Santos, could leave before Tuesday’s 11pm deadline, however, while an 11th-hour move for Blackburn skipper Christopher Samba remains a possibility.
Jordan refused to rule out the chance of Tottenham entering the market on Tuesday, adding: “In the past Tottenham have come in with a late purchase and there’s always a possibility in football.
“At this moment there is nothing imminent. All of the players are here.”
Gareth Bale is expected to overcome the thigh problem that kept him out of the Watford win and make Tuesday’s starting XI but Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon could miss out with hamstring injuries.