The FA Cup this season hasn’t been given respect by all Premier League managers, but teams are now only one match away from the quarter-final stage and surely some clubs will be looking at the competition as an opportunity to win silverware. One club that would welcome a trophy is Tottenham Hotspur, who haven’t won anything since 2008. Mauricio Pochettino is building a good team at White Hart Lane and they are beginning to establish themselves in the top four of the Premier League, but the supporters will be desperate for this team to lift a trophy sooner rather than later.
Tottenham remain in three competitions, but it could be that the FA Cup represents the best opportunity to win a trophy. They are trailing Chelsea by ten points in the Premier League, while it will require nine matches to win the Europa League. Given the tight nature of the top six this season, it could be sensible to drop out of the Europa League and focus on the domestic season, especially considering the high intensity that Spurs play at. The extra matches in Europe could have a negative impact on the league form and that could lead to Tottenham missing out on next season’s Champions League.
It is crucial that Tottenham qualify once again for Europe’s premier competition, as it allows them to attract the very best players and keep those already at the club. Although they disappointed in the Champions League this season, Tottenham have a young squad and their players will have got a taste for the competition. The likes of Hugo Lloris, Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Harry Kane should all be playing at the highest level and Tottenham could be at risk of losing them if they don’t establish themselves as Champions League regulars.
Although the Europa League is an unwelcome distraction, the FA Cup could prove to be exactly what this Tottenham side needs. If they win their next four matches in the competition, they will be lifting the trophy at Wembley. Although it lacks the prestige that it once had, it remains a major competition and it will provide Tottenham with an experience that could breed further success. This Tottenham side is very talented and they have already done very well in the Premier League. However, they lack that air of invincibility that the best sides have. That is something that they are going to have to develop and winning the FA Cup would help massively in that.
Despite several Premier League sides falling out of the competition, the competition in the FA Cup remains fierce. Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all remain in the competition and it is feasible that all four will make the quarter-final stage. It could be that five of the top six will reach that stage and that will make things very interesting indeed. The league will be the main focus for all, but they will also be looking at the possibility of winning silverware. Pep Guardiola, Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho will want to mark their first season in charge at their respective clubs with as much silverware as possible, while Arsene Wenger may see it as the perfect way to bow out at Arsenal.
Tottenham need it for a completely different reason. Mauricio Pochettino has yet to win anything as a manager and he needs to set that record straight if he wants to be considered as one of the best coaches in the world. Meanwhile, this Spurs squad lacks a winning mentality. That is evident whenever they play away in a big match. They don’t believe that they can win and that is preventing them from becoming a contender for the Premier League title. The development at Spurs is a slow one and they are making steady progress, but they need to win a trophy before they can be considered a great Tottenham team.
Spurs need to improve their game