Redknapp has said that his decision to take the helm at struggling Tottenham had nothing to do with silencing critics, who suggested he had lacked ambition after turning down the top job at Newcastle.

Redknapp took over from Juande Ramos, after Spurs only took two points from their first eight games of the new campaign under the Spaniard.

But since taking over, Redknapp's Spurs beat Liverpool twice in 11 days and took 10 points from their next five league matches. Last week's defeat away at Fulham was the first under his reign at White Hart Lane.

Redknapp, who has been in charge of 1,083 matches across six different teams in his 25 years in English football, said it was difficult to move away from Fratton Park but that he relished the opportunity.

He told The Independent: "It was difficult, Portsmouth are a great club and a great way of life.

"To take on a team with two points on the bottom of the league, some people said, 'Are you sure you're all right, Harry?'"

Redknapp says he has settled in to life in London well, but admits he was disappointed not to be able to work with Keane before the striker's move to Anfield.

The manager says he was so impressed with Keane's character that he believes the Irishman's departure was a bigger loss to the club than losing Dimitar Berbatov.

He said: "I think he [Berbatov] is a fantastic player but if he wanted to go - if someone wants out that much - it's a big problem for them to stay.

"Robbie Keane was a big loss. Robbie was a character in the dressing room, he was a leader around the place as well as being a terrific player.

"You need people like Robbie. He was a big loss."

Redknapp though insists it was not the loss of big-name players that hurt Spurs over the summer, but Ramos' inability to communicate with his team.

"His record tells you he was a fantastic manager but obviously the hardest part for him was the language. It would be like me going to Spain, I would find it difficult," he added.

"I think the foreign coaches always come in and take over big clubs. Let them take West Brom this year - would they do better than Tony Mowbray? Would they do better than Phil Brown at Hull? No way.

"It might be sexier to have a manager who has come from such-and-such club because it is a big club. But the best club teams in the world are in this country, not in Italy."