This article will tell you about the downgrade Tottenham Hotspur has faced in recent years
Tottenham Hotspur is one of the most successful and well-supported clubs in English football. However, the club has experienced a period of decline in recent years.
The club’s decline can be traced back to the end of the 2016/17 season, when they finished second in the Premier League, their highest ever finish in the modern era.
However, since then, Tottenham have failed to challenge for major honours and have struggled to maintain their status as one of the top teams in England.
The Beginning
The first signs of trouble came in the 2017/18 season, when Tottenham finished third in the league, behind Manchester City and Manchester United. Although they reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, they were beaten by Manchester United and missed out on a place in the final.
The following season, Tottenham’s form dipped further, as they finished fourth in the league and were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Ajax.
Their performances were affected by a number of factors, including injuries to key players such as Harry Kane and Dele Alli, as well as a lack of investment in the squad by the club’s owners.
Also Read: Bayern Munich’s Champions League History
In the 2019/20 season, Tottenham’s decline continued, as they finished sixth in the league and failed to qualify for the Champions League.
They were also knocked out of the FA Cup in the fifth round by Norwich City and the League Cup in the fourth round by Colchester United, two lower-league teams.
The 2020/21 season was another disappointing one for Tottenham, as they finished seventh in the league and missed out on European football altogether.
They did reach the final of the League Cup, but were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City. The club also parted ways with manager Jose Mourinho in April 2021, following a poor run of results.
What Are The Reasons Behind Spurs’ Downgrade?
There are a number of reasons why Tottenham have experienced a period of decline in recent years. Here are the main reasons behind the declination in their form:
- One of the main factors has been a lack of investment in the squad by the club’s owners, who have been criticized for prioritizing profit over success on the pitch. This has led to a lack of depth in the squad and an over-reliance on a small group of key players.
- Another factor has been the club’s struggles to find a long-term successor to former manager Mauricio Pochettino, who led Tottenham to their most successful period in recent years. Pochettino was sacked in November 2019 and was replaced by Mourinho, who failed to replicate the Argentine’s success and was dismissed after just 17 months in charge.
- Tottenham’s decline has also been compounded by a number of on-field issues, including a lack of consistency in their performances, particularly against lower-league teams, and a tendency to concede late goals.
Further Decline
The club’s defensive frailties have also been highlighted in recent seasons, with the team conceding more goals than any other team in the top six in the 2020/21 season.
In 2022/23 season, Tottenham finished sixth on the Premier League points table. Once again, they had failed to qualify for the Champions League which has now become a matter of embarrassment for past few years now.
To address these issues and return to the top of English football, Tottenham will need to make significant changes both on and off the pitch. This will likely involve investing in the squad and finding a manager who can bring stability and success to the club in the long-term.
However, with the club’s owners focused on the financial bottom line and the challenge of competing with the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea for top players, Tottenham’s path back to the top of English football may be a long and difficult one.
