With just five matches to go, Tottenham find themselves in the relegation zone. The North London club have had quite a fall in recent seasons. They finished just above the drop zone last season. However, this time around, things are much worse.
Back in 2019, Tottenham had reached an all-time high as they made it to the UEFA Champions League final. But now, they are on the verge of getting pushed back into the English second division. Their former defensive mainstay, Toby Alderweireld, was discussing the club’s downfall on ESPN.
While Spurs did win the Europa League last season under Ange Postecoglou, they struggled in the league, which led to the departure of the Australian manager. The club appointed Thomas Frank and went on to make significant additions in the summer to bolster their squad.
They brought in Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, and Kevin Danso. But neither of them has had the desired impact. While talking about the new player’s, the former 127-cap Belgian international said,
“Players who were brought in for a lot of money aren’t delivering. Not for one or two matches, but for an entire season. Then you simply have to conclude that they are not good enough in terms of quality. Very simple.”
Alderweireld pointed out the fact that the experienced players or the ones who are very important in the setup haven’t been consistent enough. They fall well below what is expected, and it is another reason for their struggles. The man who represented Spurs in 236 games said,
“The most important players must always get at least a 7. But it is precisely those players who fall below the minimum standard too often. In this squad, no one steps up. No one takes the team by the hand. Everyone plays for themselves. Great players make their teammates better; that is missing now.”
The North London club do not have leaders like they used to have back in the day. Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Eric Dier and Hugo Lloris used to be the leaders in the dressing room, but Tottenham have failed to bring in players to replace them, and it has cost them big time.
Since the Champions League final in 2019, they have made quite a few managerial changes. Post Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou, and Thomas Frank have all tried to get Spurs to the top of English football, but they have not succeeded.
Igor Tudor, who was appointed as an interim boss, couldn’t even survive until the end of the season. It clearly underlines the fact that there is a lot wrong in that dressing room as managers will different types have failed to get the club going. While speaking about managerial changes, Alderweireld said,
“The manager is not the problem. You can always put a different coach in charge, but if the players don’t deliver what they are supposed to, it remains the same. In this team, no one steps up. No one takes the team by the hand. Everyone plays for themselves. You need a balance. You need players who know what it is like to play at this level. That foundation is currently lacking.”
Given the kind of situation Spurs find themselves in, the 37-year-old feels they need a major overhaul and only that could help them get back on track. The kind of football they are playing of late, they do not really stand a chance.
He further added, “The squad really needs a ‘rough brush’. This season shows what players are made of. In addition, you need to have a clear vision. Give a manager time and ensure the squad improves. Otherwise, you will end up in the same situation again next year. It is going to be very difficult in any case. When you see them play, to be honest, you give them little chance.”
The North London club were on the verge of returning to winning ways against Brighton on Saturday, but an injury-time strike by Georginio Rutter meant they had to settle for a draw. While they are only a point behind 17th-placed West Ham, the Hammers do have a game in hand. As a result, Spurs are certainly in deep waters here.
