Redknapp: QPR season has 'been as difficult a spell as I've had anywhere'

Posted Sunday, May 19, 2013 by YAHOO Sport

Harry Redknapp has described the situation he has encountered at Queens Park Rangers this season as one of the most difficult he has faced in his entire career.

The Rs had only taken four points from 12 games when previous manager Mark Hughes was sacked in favor of Redknapp in November, but the former West Ham, Portsmouth and Tottenham manager has failed to inspire a miraculous escape, winning only four matches in the club's slide toward relegation.

On top of poor performances, Redknapp has endured criticism for his extravagant January spending, which saw the club's transfer record broken twice with the purchases of Loic Remy and Christopher Samba.

The 66-year-old has also faced issues with players away from the pitch, with Remy's midweek arrest on allegations of rape being the latest example in a season littered with unwelcome incidents.

"It hasn't been easy, there always seems to be something going on every day. It seems to be one of those clubs," Redknapp told reporters. "There always seem to be issues with the players one way or another. It's probably as difficult a spell as I've had anywhere.
"Hopefully we can sort it out next season and change it around. We need to change things now - we need to get a new group in here.

"We need to bring lads in that won't get dragged down and will want to do well.

"We need to keep the ones we think will do well and we need to move out the ones that we don't think are with the club."

Barring an unlikely victory at Anfield in their final match of the season, QPR will finish bottom of the Premier League, but Redknapp feels that match, which will mark Jamie Carragher's last as a Liverpool player before his retirement, offers an exciting opportunity for his players to give one final Premier League flourish.

"I'm sure they will care, there is no better place to play your football than Anfield," Redknapp said. "It's the best atmosphere anywhere. When that crowd sings beforehand it's the most moving thing anywhere.

"It's Carragher's last game too, so it's a good game to play in and they can test themselves against good players. If they have any brains, when the come off they will know what the Premier League is about."