Can Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham survive another trophy-less season?

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In an age where finishing in the top four of the Premier League is seen as the new iteration of winning, Tottenham Hotspur are on course for yet another stellar season. With a top four and Champions League place all but assured, Mauricio Pochettino’s men can begin to build towards next season while maintaining a marginal chance of claiming the Premier League title (and their first league crown since 1961) this term.

While clubs and chairman may bask in the glow of the Champions League and its millions, the majority of players are decidedly less impressed with simply turning up and taking part. Instead, those with true ability and determination want to win trophies, and compete for honours at the highest level of the game. This will be a concern for Spurs fans, as their club continues to fall short of achieving success at the very highest level of the game.

This season will be a turning point for Spurs, one way or another

Given the respective run-ins of both clubs, it would be surprising if Chelsea surrendered their now-seven point lead at the top of the table (particularly after the Blues’ 4-2 triumph over Spurs in the FA Cup semi-final at the weekend, and their subsequent victory over Southampton).

This would mean that yet another season of immense promise had petered out into a relatively disappointing and trophy-less campaign for Spurs, aside from the token comfort of a Champions League place.

In this respect, this year is sure to be a turning point for a hugely talented Spurs side, whether the team makes the strides required to win major honours or endures a tragic break-up.

From a positive perspective, the greatest sides in history have endured significant losses and failures on their way to a period of sustained success. Think of Manchester United’s title collapse that handed the First Division trophy to Leeds in 1992, for example, which only served to inspire the Reds to their first top-flight triumph in 26 years just 12 months later.

This means that another failed title charge and the devastating nature of Spurs’ recent semi-final defeat could galvanise the squad and serve as the catalyst for future success, and one that is befitting of the squad that Pochettino has assembled, moulded and developed over his three years at White Hart Lane.

There was an air of inevitability about Saturday’s FA Cup failure, however, as despite Spurs’ dominance and (at times) obvious superiority across the park they lacked the game management skills, temperament and composure to thrive in key moments. This meant that Chelsea, with all of their hardened experience and mental toughness, were able to defend resiliently and ensure that they were clinical when chances presented themselves.

The fact that this was Spurs’ seventh consecutive semi-final defeat only exacerbated the sense of inevitability, as Wembley paid homage to a team that is struggling to complete the transition from popular contenders to hardened winners.

The Challenge Facing Spurs

Herein lies the challenge for Spurs. After all, while it may have taken United time to end their league title hoodoo under Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager bought time for himself and instilled belief by winning cup competitions on a regular basis. The same principle has applied in more recent times for Chelsea, who have continued to win major cups and honours even as they have struggled to compete for the league. Spurs do not have this luxury, however, making it harder to convince stellar talents like Dele Alli to stay indefinitely.

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Not only this, but it is fair to surmise that patience is in short supply in modern football, from those who run top-flight clubs to the players who are desperate to enjoy trophy-laden careers. This means that if Spurs do end this season trophy-less, players such as the aforementioned Alli and the prolific Harry Kane may find it difficult to the resist the overtures of Europe’s leading clubs. Former MK Dons starlet Alli may be particularly vulnerable, as he remains a special talent that has already attracted the attention of several elite clubs.

The bottom line: Spurs face a seminal few months

In many ways, Leicester’s title triumph came at the worst time for Spurs, as it forced the Premier League’s s table topping clubs into action and drove summer spending of in excess of £1 billion in 2016. This has made it harder for Pochettino’s side to compete with their more resourceful rivals, while they also spent poorly last summer in relation to the teams around them. This, coupled with a pronounced lack of game management skills and mental strength, has hindered the development of the Spurs’ squad and contributed to the team being unable to achieve new levels this time around.

If Chelsea do the expected and seal their second title in three years, Pochettino faces a huge challenge if he is to use this year’s disappointments as fuel for next season’s fire. The Argentine must first create a case for the defence, by convincing players of the club’s future aspirations and bringing three or four world class performers who can add depth, diversity and a winning mentality to an undoubtedly talented squad. Then he must fight off the vultures for his star players, and particularly Dele Alli (who is club’s talisman and central to their future chances of success).

If he manages to achieve these objectives, Spurs may finally be set for a breakthrough season in 2017/18. If not, Pochettino may be unable to stop the break-up of a squad that he has worked so diligently to develop.

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