Are Tottenham in crisis after embarrassing 7-2 defeat to Bayern?

While nobody is denying Bayern Munich’s pedigree, losing 7-2 at home provides all the evidence you need to support the theory that there is an existential crisis at Tottenham. 

It was the first time Tottenham have conceded seven goals at home. That stat underlines just how humiliating a defeat it was. I’m not sure whether the side’s utter capitulation or the fact that Mauricio Pochettino didn’t appear enraged in the postmortem is more concerning.

While I hope it’s not true, the case can now be made that Pochettino has lost the locker room. Listless, apathetic efforts from a number of players highlighted a dismal evening for Spurs. The miserable weather truly did reflect the abject home effort.

No matter which way you slice it, all is not well behind the scenes at the club. Pochettino hasn’t executed tactically for the most of the season, nor has he made all the right personnel decisions. Staring Tanguy Ndombele and Moussa Sissoko together in the heart of midfield simply doesn’t work. Both are aggressive, physical players who are unable to complement each other’s similar attributes.

Starting both players at home also sent Bayern Munich the message that the home side would have been happy with a draw. It shows a lack of enterprise and confidence, particularly from a team who were a step away from becoming European Champions less than four months ago.

While Pochettino is partly culpable for the side’s recent demise, it’s the players who should take the brunt of blame. For a side of Tottenham’s calibre, there is no excuse for wholesale capitulation. In the second half against Bayern it was agonizingly evident the home side, as a collective, decided to throw in the towel. That type of indifferent character belies everything Pochettino has been working toward for the better part of five years.

It’s not an exaggeration, in the aftermath of such a humbling defeat, to admit that a crisis has manifested at Tottenham Hotspur. While it might be slightly too early for Pochettino to worry about losing his job, another abject performance or two could force the gaffer onto death row.

All eyes will be squarely focussed on how the Lilywhites react to this painful setback when they travel to Brighton for Saturday’s early fixture. Without an impressive fight back, we’ll know where the lads stand.

If Pochettino truly lost the locker room, there might be no way back for Tottenham’s messiah. Let’s hope with everything that is not the case.