Last season was a highly successful one for Tottenham even though a disastrous end to the campaign helped arch rival Arsenal overtake them for the second spot. Spurs were the only team that challenged Leicester City to some extent, even that didn’t prove to enough as Ranieri’s men cantered to the title. Finishing behind North London rivals Arsenal might have dented some pride, but the Spurs fans should be proud of the effort that there team put in all of last season. Pochettino would have happily taken a third place finish at the start of the season but given the circumstances, it was disappointing.
Now Tottenham must get ready to mount a serious title challenge next, all the ingredients are there, he just needs to utilize them in the best possible manner. With a brilliant and committed young manager, a strong squad that will only improve with expereince, and the promise of Champions League football to lure potential signings, White Hart Lane could see another title tilt next season.
One thing the Pochettino has to deal with carefully is that many of his key players are representing their countries this month in either Copa America or the European Championship. He wasn’t too keen on rotating his team last season, which eventually led to most of his key players playing an awful lot of game and with international duty in the summer, he could be left with a host of players suffering from fatigue and burnout. After Dele Alli and Dembele got suspended towards the end of the season, Spurs midfield cover couldn’t provide that same energy and thrust in the middle, which led to 0 wins in their last 4 matches, eventually costing them the second place.
Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb should be replaced this summer, if Spurs want to raise their title ambitions, similarly players like Son Heung-min, Nacer Chadli and Tom Carroll who are extremely talented, but are unlikely to challenge the defenses around the Premier League. The main area for concern right now is what happens when Harry Kane gets injured, he was instrumental in dragging his team over the line on many occasions last season, which just goes to show heavily reliant they are on their number 9. Pochettino’s top priority this summer should be finding an able cover for Kane, who can also partner him upfront and give Tottenham another outlet.
Spurs were very lucky with injuries last season, the most used starting XI could beat most teams on their day, but when a couple of key players are out injured, Spurs suddenly look a far less dangerous prospect, so keeping the likes of Kane, Alli, Dier and Eriksen fit is crucial.
With Pep Guardiola taking over at Manchester City, Jose Mourinho returning with Manchester United, and Arsene Wenger looking for that much awaited League title, the competition will be tougher than ever, after a year when all the big clubs struggled. Conte will be given a significant budget and a target of a top four place, Klopp will look to carry on his revolution at Liverpool, therefore Pochettino must get his side fit and firing from the start otherwise they could be left at the back. However with the right signings, better discipline, and a fit squad, Spurs could genuinely mount a serious title push come August 13th.
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