Why Tottenham are favourites for the Champions League spots this season
Spurs have hugely a talented starting XI but lacked squad depth competing against Europe’s best last season
WE say it every season, but the upcoming Premier League campaign may be the most hotly contested yet.
With spending at an all time high, teams at the top and bottom are able to invest in improving their squad, with six teams vying for the league title.
Tottenham Hotspur are one of these sides.
The Premier League runners-up finished in their highest ever place last time around, with many expecting them to push on this year and finally get their hands on the trophy.
That being said, Spurs’ summer has hardly teased an upcoming trophy haul.
The transfer window has been a complete and utter disappointment.
Not only have we sold Kyle Walker to a rival (albeit for a chunky fee), we’ve failed to reinvest.
Daniel Levy promised to fans that the delivery of our new £800million stadium would not impact our ability to spend in the market, it seems this was false.
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Spurs are in desperate need of Champions League quality.
Despite having such a talented starting XI, our wider squad lacked against Europe’s best last season, with just a handful having played in the illustrious competition before.
Still, I thoroughly expect Mauricio Pochettino’s side to challenge at the top again this season, so much so that in my eyes they are guaranteed to finish in the top four.
Only Spurs and Manchester City managed to secure Champions League football for this campaign whilst competing in the tournament at the same time.
That’s something that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Champions Chelsea were given the freedom of no European football, Arsenal narrowly missed out to Liverpool, and then there’s Leicester. Well the less said about them the better.
It stands to reason that Pep Guardiola and Pochettino’s sides are favourites to repeat this achievement this time around, despite the North London side failing to make it past the group stages.
City have strengthened significantly in the market, investing heavily in their defence.
Spurs, albeit failing to secure any summer signings, have been in two successive title races, a feat that very few other top clubs have done in recent years.
True, it perhaps signifies that there is further improvement work to be done, but it subsequently highlights the talent of their starting XI.
Pochettino has spoken numerous times stating that when their trust and belief in their team remains high, there is less need to disrupt the crop with new arrivals.
Spurs fans would disagree, but trust in our Argentine manager has never been higher.
Our squad of course has its strengths and weaknesses. At one end of the spectrum, Harry Kane and Dele Alli continue to elevate Tottenham to a new level.
Moussa Sissoko and Georges-Kevin N’Koudou however are still very much a reminder of the ‘old Spurs’ we once knew.
Many may argue that our Wembley hoodoo will come in to play, but this simply won’t happen.
We’ve been playing the best teams in Europe at the national stadium.
Without being disrespectful, when the likes of Huddersfield and Burnley come to town, we won’t be seeing any surprises.
Spurs will secure a top four finish this season, although I feel with our lack of signings, we are destined for third place.
“Same old Spurs,” may now become a reference to our ability to finish in the top four. Becoming the new Arsenal may be no bad thing at all.
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