• Champions League

Redknapp urges Spurs players to shrug off CL pressure

Peter Crouch's winner against Manchester City last season earned Tottenham Hotspur a place in the Champions League © Getty Images

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Harry Redknapp has urged his Tottenham Hotspur players to not let themselves be weighed down by the pressure heaped on their shoulders ahead of the Champions League qualifier against Young Boys - the club's first foray into European's premier club competition for close to 50 years.

"Obviously there's more pressure on us, but it's a great chance," Redknapp said. "We've waited a long time for the chance to play in the Champions League. We've got to take it and win. This team have never let me down. We should beat them, shouldn't we?"

Redknapp will not be able to call on midfielder Jermaine Jenas, who has been linked with a move to Juventus, due to a calf strain.

England international Jenas did not travel to Bern, while Ledley King also stayed in London, with Redknapp unwilling to risk his captain's persistent knee problem on the Swiss club's artificial pitch. David Bentley (ankle), Jamie O'Hara (back) and Jonathan Woodgate (groin) remain sidelined.

Despite not travelling to Bern, club skipper King is urging his team-mates not to take their opponents lightly.

He told the club's official website: "We're looking forward to the play-off and hopefully getting into the group stages. It's important we don't look past the play-off and these important games both home and away.

"We will take Young Boys very seriously, even though we don't know too much about them. We're expecting a tough game and away from home is always tough in Europe.

Michael Dawson is expected to skipper Spurs © Getty Images

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"We've still got a big job to make sure we get through this play-off.''

Young Boys defender Christoph Spycher has warned Spurs his side would play the showdown without fear.

Spurs fans were celebrating after the north Londoners were paired with the Swiss runners-up for their first match in Europe's Premier club competition for almost half a century.

But former Switzerland left-back Spycher is planning to have the last laugh and prevent Tottenham reaching the lucrative group stage.

"It's great that they were celebrating but, for sure, we hope that after the two games we will be celebrating,'' the 32-year-old told Press Association Sport.

Spycher's ambition is reflected behind the scenes at Young Boys, the club last week replacing their chief executive with a man they feel is better able to boost their European profile.

And despite being huge underdogs for the tie, they have already claimed one scalp en route to this stage, stunning Fenerbahce in Istanbul.

"We had little chance against Fenerbahce and we did it,'' Spycher said. "So we believe in ourselves, we believe if we make two really perfect games that we have a chance to get through to the Champions League.

"That's a dream for us and we will work very hard for that.''

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