Harry hits out at Real play-acting

Published Apr. 7, 2011 2:38 p.m. ET

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Harry Redknapp has accused Real Madrid's players of deliberately trying to get Peter Crouch sent off in Tottenham's Champions League defeat.

Tottenham's faint hopes of overpowering the nine-time European champions suffered a serious blow 15 minutes into the quarter-final first leg defeat at the Bernabeu when Crouch was sent off for his second foul on a Real defender in the opposition's half.

The England striker first upended Sergio Ramos before a late sliding tackle sent Marcelo flying in the air and he was given his marching orders with a second yellow.

Redknapp was not impressed by the way that Real defender Pepe immediately pleaded with referee Felix Brych to send the striker off after the second foul, and with the play-acting which he feels followed both tackles.

"They made a meal of it. They made sure they got him sent off," Redknapp told talkSPORT.

"When it happened they were all after the referee and overacting and the player was rolling around."

Crouch apologised for the dismissal - Spurs' third in the competition this year - and Redknapp insists he holds nothing against the towering hitman despite the disastrous effect the red card had on the outcome of the game.

"Crouchy made a mistake and no one could feel more sorry than he does," the 64-year-old added.

"He's been great for me over the years. He's made a mistake. These things can happen."

Tottenham's players will report to training for the first time since the 4-0 defeat today.

Redknapp has a number of fitness concerns ahead of his side's game against Stoke on Saturday. His defensive injury crisis deepened on Tuesday after Vedran Corluka hurt the same ankle he damaged against AC Milan in the previous round.

If the Croatian is ruled out, Redknapp could be facing the prospect of having just four fit defenders for Stoke and the return leg against Madrid four days later.

Corluka himself is not confident about starting at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

He said: "We will see what the results of the scan are. I don't know how long I will be out for. I don't think I will be available for Saturday."