Harry Redknapp has denied that he deliberately left out his strongest Tottenham Hotspur squad throughout the Europa League.
The North London side, who were knocked out of the tournament despite defeating Shamrock Rovers 4-0 last night, only had two first-team players that started in the Premier League last weekend, as well as just four substitutes on the bench.
The ex-Portsmouth boss was criticised for not treating the European competition with equal importance to the English league.
"No chance," responded Redknapp. "Have a look at the team that played. There's seven full internationals playing tonight, seven. That's not counting Carlos Cudicini who played at Chelsea and Danny Rose, an England Under-21 international.
"I haven't put a bunch of kids out in any game. I've played one or two kids but I've also played seven or eight international players. [It's] nothing to do with team selections.
"Maybe if I had played [the first-team regulars] we might have sneaked through but we might not have won ten out of 11 league games and drawn one so you can't have it all ways."
Spurs turn back to their league campaign this weekend with a match against Sunderland at White Hart Lane.
Danielle Joynson
