The 2018/19 EPL football season is in the past and as the dust slowly settles, the teams forge new plans on how to improve upon their performances and step into the 2019/20 season stronger, faster and better. Tottenham is one of the teams that had one of the most memorable seasons by reaching the historic UCL finals, however, once again failed to win the EPL title, which has been avoiding them for over 40 years. Showing off their potential in 2018/19, one can’t help but wonder what the Spurs have in store for us as we slowly approach the 2018/19 season.
SHANGHAI, CHINA – JULY 24: Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur in action during the Tottenham Hotspur conference/training at Shanghai Yuanshen Stadium on July 24, 2019 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Di Yin/International Champions Cup/Getty Images)
Looking back at 2018/19 season for Tottenham, they have shown their strength as well as weaknesses and while the last season was nowhere perfect for the Spurs, they have managed to achieve the unthinkable when Tottenham reached the finals of UEFA Champions League for the first time in the clubs history. Not only have Spurs reached the finals of UCL, but they also did in a spectacular fashion, knocking out Ajax and Manchester City, who were a thorn in the side for some of the strongest European clubs. But their spectacular performance could not only be seen in the European competitions. While they finished “only 4th” in the EPL, we must acknowledge that Tottenham won only 11 points in their last 10 league matches, but still managed to finish in the top 4. In fact, they were also very close to joining the title race but fell short due to a run of bad form. Seeing how far the team has come in the past couple of years and how they have improved to become a serious contender for the EPL title, we can’t help but wonder how far the Spurs can go in 2019/20 season.
If there are two things Spurs have is quality and consistency, which they arguably got with the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino 5 years ago. As a coach, he took a team that was decent and turned it into a team that is now showing great qualities and works as a solid unit. Another thing that has become a staple of the team is their lineup, which has seen only a few changes throughout the years. That ultimately resulted in a strong bond and chemistry between the players, which made Tottenham a solid unit of players who each know what their role on the pitch is. As the years have passed, Tottenham have slowly improved and now consistently finish in the top 4, making us wonder what Spurs need to push them higher?
With a team that has learned how to play with each other, Spurs should avoid any drastic changes which would ultimately shatter the balance which has been established in the past 5 years. Smart business is what is needed for this club to succeed, and as it seems, that is exactly what Pochettino is doing. Looking at this year’s transfers, the club have added two young stars Ndombele and Clarke to the team, who are expected to be slowly implemented in the Spurs squad, find their place and become a part of the team.
So with only two changes to the team in the transfer window, where does that leave Spurs and what can they achieve the upcoming season?
(L-R) Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur, Lucas Moura of Tottenham Hotspur during the UEFA Champions League semi final match Ajax Amsterdam and Tottenham Hotspur FC at the Johan Cruijff Arena on May 08, 2019 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)
As far as fans expectations go, Spurs should once again aim for at least top 4 finish, which is something we have come accustomed to. They have shown year after year, they can compete against the best and there is no reason to believe that will change the upcoming season. They seem to have the potential to become one of the elite clubs, however, having potential and utilizing it are two different things. While they can compete with the best in the EPL, Tottenham have to expand their good performances into the European stage as well, meaning they should one more push for the UCL title. Spurs have got the quality, however, it’s the experience that they lack, which they can only get by performing up to par just like they did in 2018/19 in the UCL in the upcoming years as well.
With a new stadium, reaching the historic UCL finals and adding two incredible talents to the team, Spurs seem to be on the right path to becoming one of the elite clubs. Expecting them to finish in the top 4 in EPL once more is only fair to expect, however, when it comes to winning the UCL, that achievement just might have to wait for a couple more seasons.
