Tottenham Hotspur Are on the Edge

DBasia.news – Four years coaching Tottenham Hotspur, Mauricio Pochettino was never facing the difficult situation like now: Tottenham got defeated in three consecutive times (two in the Premier League and one in Champions League). Hence it’s reasonable that Tottenham felt on the edge.

Moreover, despite this is still the beginning of the season, there are many factors contributing to the anxiety of Tottenham supporters for the worse possibility. The worst case is, Tottenham might be eliminated from the big four of Premier League or the Champions League zone if the situation remains.

Tottenham and the manager Mauricio Pochettino felt the pressure already. By the frustration, he went angry with the media, signaling the inconducive situation in Tottenham.

“You disrespect the players that tonight showed better qualities than the opponent. When my decision is to play with 11, you must respect my decision because I am the manager. It’s so painful to hear when some people are not here and you judge in that way,” Pochettino said after the 1-2 defeat against Inter in the Champions League.

Pochettino went awry of the reporters who asked his squad decision, by leaving Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier in North London. Moreover with the absence of players due to injury: Dele Alli, Hugo Lloris, and Moussa Sissoko.

The issue of Tottenham, with all due respect, perhaps won’t be this big in the past. In recent years, Tottenham showed a significant progress from the former Tottenham, especially since Pochettino came in 2014 from Southampton.

Alli, Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Erik Dier, Trippier, and Son Heung-min are the names growing big under Pochettino. Tottenham presented the great performance with offensive and entertaining philosophy.

Moreover, during the last two seasons, they could stand tall above the rival, Arsenal, and qualified for the Champions League zone. But this season, the situation is in contrast compared to the two past seasons. Tottenham had their worst phase since led by Pochettino.

“We believe in each other. That’s why we always fight until the end of the season. Of course, people are thinking like this now but inside the dressing room, I can tell you it’s not like that. It’s time to win again,” said Tottenham player Erik Lamela.

Is it true, Lamela? From what we see in the past three matches of Spurs, the players were in their lowest point of confidence. Pochettino has a great task to motivate the players considering the worst situation.

Daniel Levy’s Arrogance

 

Daniel Levy

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The Guardian wrote in their article, mentioning Daniel Leavy as the iron fist, considering his talent to handle the player transfer in White Hart Lane. The transfer strategy seems stingy, but Levy gives great profit to the club from the signing.

His way of handling the transfer is great in marketing approach, but not this season. The Tottenham chairman did the biggest blunder by not recruiting any player in the summer transfer market. This is the first time since the Premier League format established in 1992.

“I don’t want to be sarcastic and ironic. The club is showing it is so brave. Of course, maybe in the mind of everyone they will say, ‘Oh, Tottenham didn’t sign anyone’ but to sign for the sake of signing? It is better to keep your (players),” Pochettino said couple times ago.

“That maybe looks bad because of the perception and because of the history of football, but that is our decision – to keep the best players and to keep the squad. It’s a brave decision,” he continued.

Do Tottenham endure all the consequence of the ‘bravery’ Pochettino said? Yes. When the remaining players in the club ran out of ideas to develop the game and to attack the opponents, Pochettino has no option from the bench as well. The injuries also won’t help.

“The gaffer said he’s not just going to bring in players for the sake of it. What that does is give the rest of the squad huge belief because it shows he has belief in us. Now we have to repay him and the repay the club for that,” Kane said.

It’s easier to say than done, didn’t meet the expectation. It’s easy for Kane to say the club will be strong without new player after the 3-0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford. In fact, there is a ‘X-factor’ overlooked by Tottenham this season.