The day Portsmouth boss Grant hit out at Uefa, Cotterill explained his on-pitch post-match summit and Redknapp spoke out about managerial pressures

The News has been looking back on what happened on this day in years gone by. And as usual, Pompey didn’t let us down.
Steve Cotterill speaks to his players on the pitch after their 3-0 defeat against Coventry in 2011.  Picture:Steve ReidSteve Cotterill speaks to his players on the pitch after their 3-0 defeat against Coventry in 2011.  Picture:Steve Reid
Steve Cotterill speaks to his players on the pitch after their 3-0 defeat against Coventry in 2011. Picture:Steve Reid

Here’s a few of the highlights that caught our eye...

Grant: Pompey deserve their place in Europe.

On this day in 2010, Avram Grant demanded Pompey were to be given their rightful place in Europe.

Avram Grant celebrates Pompey's FA Cup semi-final win against Spurs in 2010.  Picture: Allan HutchingsAvram Grant celebrates Pompey's FA Cup semi-final win against Spurs in 2010.  Picture: Allan Hutchings
Avram Grant celebrates Pompey's FA Cup semi-final win against Spurs in 2010. Picture: Allan Hutchings

The then Blues boss saw his team claim a place in the 2010-11 Europa League after they booked their FA Cup final berth with a remarkable 2-0 win over Spurs.

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But there were doubts the club might not be allowed to compete in the competition after they failed to submit an application for a Uefa licence before the deadline amid the financial turmoil at Fratton Park.

Grant, however, believed Pompey had earned their right to play in Europe again.

He said: ‘Why shouldn’t we be allowed to play in Europe?

Harry RedknappHarry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp

Portsmouth deserve to play in Europe. With a lot of spirit, Portsmouth have earned their place in the Europa League on the pitch.

‘I know it has surprised everyone and there were a lot of people who thought we would not do it but we deserve to be in Europe and that’s all.

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‘I have respect for so many things that have happened but sometimes I don’t understand.

‘Everybody needs to respect the rules but sometimes you need to be logical.’

Cotterill reveals truth behind post-match summit

On this day in 2011, Steve Cotterill lifted the lid on his post-match pitch rallying cry against Coventry and insisted: I’d never blast my players in public.

The then Pompey manager revealed the reasons for pulling his men together in the wake of their 3-0 loss against the Sky Blues was to stop them venting their fury at referee Dean Whitestone.

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Cotterill angrily dismissed the suggestion he did a ‘Phil Brown’ – a reference to when the former Hull boss ripped into his players on the pitch at half-time against Manchester City.

He stated there was no way he could lambast his men after the resolve they had shown through a season of turmoil.

And Cotterill insisted he would never ‘dig out’ his men in such a manner, preferring to keep problems behind closed doors.

He told The News at the time: ‘If I had something to say to the players it’s not going to happen in public. They know that.

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‘There have been plenty of times this season when I’ve been asked to dig a player out.

‘I’ve never done that. That’s not my style.

‘The chat I had basically was to tell them to stay away from the referee.

‘It wasn’t me having a go at them. I was feeling the same thing as them.

‘No way I would have a go at them on the pitch.

‘If I have anything to do to them like that I would never do that publicly. I’ve had my moments in the dressing room. They know that.

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‘Any time I’ve had a go at them in the dressing room they would probably agree with me because they are an honest bunch.

‘They would know it was justified.

‘I don’t always speak my mind publicly but the lads will know where they are with me – good, bad and indifferent.’

Redknapp hits out at ‘crazy’ managerial pressures

In 2007, Harry Redknapp hit out at the ‘crazy’ pressure football managers are facing.

The Pompey boss blasted the ridiculous expectations being placed on bosses in the modern-day game.

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And he slammed ‘idiot’ fans who ring up football phone-ins to hurl abuse.

Redknapp moved to speak about the outrageous demands now put on men in the hot seat following the sacking of Chris Coleman at Fulham.

He blamed the goldfish bowl culture of football for contributing to managers being sacked by chairmen with itchy trigger fingers.

‘It’s scary what you have to contend with now,’ said Redknapp.

‘People’s expectations are scary. They don’t understand.

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‘They talk about moving on to the “next level”. What is the next level?

‘They have short memories and that’s the problem. Everyone’s a judge. Everybody.

‘All these idiots who ring up phone-ins and don’t have a clue. They are all judges. It’s crazy.’

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