Is Second Place a Bad Result for Tottenham?
The Premier League season has seven games remaining, but if it ended now, would second place be a bad result for Tottenham?
In any other year, finishing second place in the Premier League — if all you were aiming for is the Champions League, would be a good result. In fact, even this season isn’t a bad year to finish runners-up in the Premier League title hunt with how it has gone.
The reason for this question is partially brought up by Tottenham midfielder, Mousa Dembélé’s, thoughts on a second place finish. Which he feels would be disappointing. But knows that they still have a chance as Leicester City are doing their best to hang on to a five point lead
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“It will be difficult, but we have to have confidence in ourselves,” Dembélé told reporters while on international duty with Belgium. “We have a difficult run-in too. We still have Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester (United) so it won’t be easy.”
“But in the Premier League, everyone can beat everyone. So we’ll see.”
“Of course we would be disappointed if we don’t win it.”
“The season has been very good — you have to be positive too. But we have a goal and we’re trying to think of that.”
Right now, Leicester City at their current form and how things just so happen to unfold for them, are running away with the title.
Being five points ahead isn’t necessarily “running away” with seven games remaining and a crazy season thus far. But remember, Tottenham weren’t actually supposed to be in this position in the first place.
They’re basically a couple of years early in Mauricio Pochettino’s long-term project.
That, and it came down to the Premiership’s big five of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United all slipping up (coincidentally) at the same time.
It’s not that Spurs can’t win the title now, but following the conclusion of last season and a fifth place finish. No one looked at this squad — before and after changes were made — and thought of a Champions League club. Let alone being named Premier League title favorites. Ever.
If they did, no one actually took those people seriously.
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Expectations have drastically changed from August until March, and now April.
But again, no one expected this to happen. So surely it can’t be seen as a stomach punch if Tottenham happened to finish second behind Leicester. Right?
In any event, Mauricio Pochettino still has seven games left to potentially overtake Leicester City.
But Tottenham’s current run of games is considerably harder than the Foxes once the Premiership returns. The month of May, may very well be the decider for these two clubs.
For Spurs, their three games in May are against Chelsea (away), Southampton (home) and Newcastle (away). Leicester’s final three fixtures see them play Man United (away), Everton (home) and Chelsea (away).
Tottenham’s goal, like it has been (for the most part) ever since they had their first taste of Champions League football, and European football once again, was to get back to that big stage. To return and show that they’re a big European club as well.
Winning, or rather, competing for a league title was always in the back of their minds. But thinking realistically, not every club can win it.
Seeing as how there’s only been five champions crowned in 25 seasons (not including this year): Manchester United (13), Chelsea (4), Arsenal (3), Manchester City (2) and Blackburn Rovers (1). Also, 47 clubs have competed in the Premiership, so that makes the amount of winners even smaller than it is.
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So, unless the Premier League decided to adopt Major League Soccer’s playoffs system, then competing in at most, four competitions and three at the very least, is much harder now than it has ever been.
Therefore, one way to look at Tottenham’s season right now is a success. Whether they finish first or second or just in the top four still, is considered a win for the club and the fans. Would it be disappointing to not win the Premier League title this season? Sure. But would it be a failure? Not even the slightest.