Redknapp: United have the quality to win a trophy

Redknapp, who last managed against the Reds in 2015 with QPR, has been impressed by the improvements shown by United under the guidance of Erik ten Hag.

Speaking to United Review, the official match programme for this evening's game at Old Trafford, he picked out Lisandro Martinez as a player who has done particularly well so far this season, from the clutch of quality names who were brought in last summer.

“You can see real improvement, they [United] strengthened well in the summer,” said Redknapp. 

“Lisandro Martinez has come in and done very well at the back. 

“It’s going to be tough, but there’s certainly quality in that United team to finish top four and win a cup.”

Though we’ll be meeting Bournemouth in the Premier League this evening, Redknapp's favourite meeting between the clubs came in the FA Cup third round, back in 1983/84 when he was in charge of the Cherries and United had won the trophy in the previous season.

“I have to be totally honest, I went into that game hoping we wouldn’t get beat six, seven, eight… something like that,” he said. 

“We were a very average, mid-table, third-tier Football League team – but on the day, I don’t know what happened to my players. They were men inspired for 90 minutes.”

Redknapp continues: “They ran and ran and got an incredible result. What made it even better was that we deserved the win. 

“They didn’t cause us that many problems. Big Ron [Atkinson] was the United manager and what a team they had out that day, with some proper players.”

And Harry, an unabashed Bournemouth fan, will be hoping to see yet another inspired performance against the Reds this evening.

Gary O’Neil’s side come into the game two points above the drop, and Redknapp thinks they’ve been unlucky on a handful of occasions to lose some of the games they have.

But he remains hopeful that the tide will turn in favour of the Cherries, and they will stay in the top flight come the end of the season.

“At the start of the season, I didn’t think they would be able to stay in the division. 

“But every time I’ve been to watch them, I come away thinking ‘Bournemouth were good today’ and that’s even when they’ve lost on occasion.”

Redknapp added: “They’ve definitely surprised me. With Gary O’Neil in charge and the quality they have in the team, I genuinely think they can survive this season.”

Kick-off between United and Bournemouth this evening is at 20:00 GMT. 

You can real the full interview with Harry Redknapp in the Bournemouth edition of United Review, which is available to order online now.