Redknapp's quiet satisfaction as King Kanu reigns supreme

FOR a man who had just won his first major honour in football management, Harry Redknapp gave the impression of being more relieved than elated by leading Portsmouth to a first FA Cup success in 69 years.

"It has been a difficult year but football-wise it has been fantastic," he said, his difficulties being the recent death of his sister-in-law Pat Lampard that followed his arrest in the inquiry investigating corruption in football. It was suggested personal issues could result in yesterday's Wembley final being his last game in charge of the Fratton Park club but he maintained he had never thought about stepping down. "Everybody goes through tough times and it was important that we got the result," he said.

Redknapp does not rate the win as a career high. "Winning the FA Cup is special but in football terms keeping Portsmouth up when I came back to the club two years ago was a bigger achievement."

That the cup was claimed courtesy of a Kanu strike gave the Pompey boss particular satisfaction. "When he missed a chance early on I wondered if it was going to be one of those days but that is him now – scored the winner in the semi-final and the winner today. People thought I was mad when I signed him but he has been great."

Redknapp's hope was that he could celebrate the success in quiet fashion. "What I would like to do now is slip away back to my house in Bournemouth with my wife, check the dogs are okay, head to a little Italian near us, open a bottle of red wine and then look forward to going round Portsmouth in a bus tomorrow and seeing the crowds."

Kanu, sporting a cap with 'king' written on it, said: "They call me king. I have to deliver and hopefully I did. I have to thank God – God made it possible for me to score. This is the best moment of my life. I started the game and I won the cup for Portsmouth. I have felt nothing like this."

Sol Campbell, part of the Pompey defence that withstood some late Cardiff pressure, said: "It's fantastic, this is a brilliant day for everyone who's connected with Portsmouth. We worked hard, we had our luck through the rounds but in the end the result was good."