Redknapp slams Spurs stars and points finger at "bad eggs" amid Nuno criticism

Harry Redknapp has launched a passionate defence of Tottenham Hotspur boss Nuno Espirito Santo amid suggestions he could be sacked from his post.

Spurs are languishing in mid-table after three successive Premier League defeats, including the dismal showing at rivals Arsenal in the north London derby.

They got back to winning ways with a Europa Conference League victory in midweek but pressure is already mounting on Nuno just a few months into his tenure.

But Redknapp - who was in charge of Spurs from 2008-2012 - believes it is the players who should be taking the flack for their poor run of form.

Harry Redknapp has slammed Tottenham's players ( Image:

PA)

Speaking to The Sun, he admitted he was "baffled" by Spurs downturn in results but is adamant it would be "unfair" for Nuno to lose his job so soon after his appointment.

"It makes me laugh when people say how much these players - and the bulk of them are still there - loved playing under Mauricio Pochettino," he said.

"Well, if they loved him that much, you'd have thought they might have tried a bit harder and he wouldn't have got the sack in the first place."

Redknapp then criticised the Spurs squad for "not pulling up any trees" in Pochettino's final months in charge, or during Jose Mourinho's reign.

He explained how he felt the issue rested with the playing squad and there was little any of the three Tottenham managers, past and present, could do about it.

"Is that because all three of them are no good? Of course not," he added.

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Nuno Espirito Santo is under pressure at Tottenham ( Image:

REUTERS)

"The problems at Spurs have to go deeper than the manager. For a start, the players obviously aren't as good as we all thought."

Redknapp then suggested there "could be one or two bad eggs" inside the Tottenham dressing room affecting the rest of the group.

He advised Nuno not to start "chopping and changing" his tactics, but rather pick a side and system and work with it on the training field until performances and results improve.

Citing examples such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Redknapp even claimed the best managers are not necessarily the best coaches, and feels instilling belief back into his players is Nuno's biggest task.

Harry Kane is one of the players to come under fire in recent months following his obvious attempts to push for a move to Manchester City, followed by a recent patch of questionable performances.

Yet Redknapp sees the striker as the only real leader in Spurs' side and feels more scrutiny should be placed at the door of those in charge of the club's recruitment.

Nuno recently spoke out on the spotlight on him and his team, but was unfazed.

"The criticism is normal. Everybody knows how this industry works," he said. "When you don't play good, when you don't perform and results don't go your way, criticism is something you have to deal with.

"We understand it and it's up to us to react and change it."