Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp faces the most important few days of his career The debates will rage over Spurs" capitulation, over the decision to stick with FA Cup goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, over William Gallas's deteriorating form, over Redknapp's gung-ho tactics and over whether, as Roy Keane put it, with a low blow as a television pundit, there are enough strong characters at the club. As Redknapp held his chin, his team fell apart. A 5-1 scoreline was humiliating. As a dress rehearsal to test whether here was a manager for the big occasion it was an unmitigated disaster. Such hammerings don't happen on such a stage with such close rivals, surely? And yet, how can it be properly assessed? How can what unfolded be coolly analysed when Spurs suffered such a gross injustice as was perpetrated when Juan Mata's shot was deemed to have crossed the goal-line to give Chelsea that two-goal advantage? Chelsea's caretaker manager, Roberto Di Matteo, claimed that he wasn't sure how much it mattered, but he knew the answer to that. It mattered a lot. It was a simply astonishing decision by referee Martin Atkinson to give the goal when it wasn't even close to crossing the line and there will all kinds of ramifications for the official, who can expect a demotion, as the technology debate continues. It will be no comfort for Spurs; it will be no comfort for Redknapp. His frustration and rage was clear from that touchline pose as he dug his hands deeper into his coat pockets, rocked on his heels or paced around that technical area, imploring for some kind of reaction. He will also have cursed his luck, wondered why fortune has gone hiding for him at such a vital part of the campaign. For in the cold light of day it is now just one victory from nine matches for Spurs. It has been a desperately poor run of results, a true test of character, and however much Redknapp dismisses any notion that England has been a distraction or that he has been drained by the tax evasion trial he had to go through before eventually being acquitted, it has all been one hell of a coincidence if that is not the case. Interestingly Redknapp spoke, afterwards, of the need to find a team from his squad with the "willpower, desire, nerve" to claim that fourth spot that had seemed the very least that the club could expect this season - and now amounts to the most they can hope for . He sounded like a man who was unsure whether he could now call on those resources. What a knife-edge he now walks. He has already been through one defining week, with the tax acquittal and Capello's resignation, but here is another and one where he is no longer riding the crest of public and media approval, with questions now being asked. He will not feel like the anointed one this morning and as a manager who has never been known to take defeat well, it is a real test for him, as to how he carries on. For Redknapp has tried all sorts of tactics and line-ups and needs to go again. In a sense the season cannot end quickly enough for him and for Spurs, who have turned from the Premier League's entertainers to the hunted, with Arsenal reversing their commanding advantage and both Chelsea and Newcastle United on their tail. At the same time the Spurs fans have grown increasingly disillusioned. For some, Redknapp's departure cannot come quickly enough and that will hurt him and also prick his pride, given how he has turned around the club's fortunes during his time at Tottenham. But it all feels a far cry from when Spurs were being talked about as title candidates, not just Champions League hopefuls. Yet it all comes back to that Mata 'goal. Spurs were behind by then, but looking the better team. They struck back through Gareth Bale but it was still a game of catch-up and Redknapp rolled the dice. Maybe he was too bold, too panicky, pushing his team on, trying to secure an equalising goal only to be picked off by Chelsea, superbly, on the counter-attack until Spurs were simply humbled. The tension in Redknapp's face was clear. This does feel like a defining week for him but that first conclusion, losing this semi-final, was muddied by the rank injustice served on him and on Spurs.