Tottenham Hotspur’s slump has deepened into an even more alarming situation, with a season of disastrous failures now threatening to deplete the Londoners.
Tottenham are not yet in the Premier League’s relegation zone, but they are dangerously close, and West Ham United’s recent improvement highlights their dire need for an upturn in form.
Apart from the frenetic draw at Anfield, Spurs have lost every league game since February 1, when Manchester City were held to a draw at the Etihad Stadium. They failed to build on their Europa League victory in 2024/25 and instead drank that poisoned chalice and are now staring down relegation to the Championship.
Igor Tudor was only drafted last month, but the Croatian caretaker has failed to restore form to the beleaguered side, and the bereavement of his family following the recent defeat to Nottingham Forest could see them part ways before they resume action after the March international break.
Who could the Spurs replace Tudor with?
Roberto De Zerbi is the front-runner to take the job at Tottenham, but the Italian appears to have major reluctance to take on the role as the Lilywhites battle relegation.
Whether they succeed in that bid remains to be seen and with Tudor’s future uncertain, Sean Dyche has been floated as a possible replacement, but despite his relegation experience, the former Burnley, Everton and Nottingham Forest player is not the most exciting name on the list.
However, this all feels like Mauricio Pochettino has been somewhat ignored. Yes, the former Tottenham manager has attracted the attention of the ENIC group, and while the Argentine is set to lead the USMNT towards this summer’s World Cup, there is a sense that he might jump at the chance to return to the Premier League and the N17.
Although unlikely, former Spurs and USA goalkeeper Casey Keller believes Tottenham could persuade their former manager to leave before the end of the season, thereby losing their managerial position.
Why Spurs should appoint Pochettino
It’s been almost seven years since Tottenham and Daniel Levy decided to sack Pochettino, just months after he led them to the Champions League final.
At the time, journalist Alex Keeble hailed the South American as a “genius” and suggested he was “too good” for both Levy and Spurs.
There was strong debate over this decision at the time, but it’s hard to argue that Tottenham were moving in the right direction after that, and appointing either Dyche or De Zerbi could mean continuing down the same wrong path.
Frank and now Tudor have not been able to elicit fluency or form from the Tottenham players. This is a talented team and even against the backdrop of subsequent injuries, they should not be in contention for relegation at the end of the season.
But this is the reality for the Lilywhites, and time is running out if they are to maintain their top-flight status. The defense is full of holes, and the front line lacks any kind of balance or sharpness. Pochettino’s typical 4-2-3-1 formation and his controlled front-foot style will match the team’s abilities.
Lowest xG total in PL (25/26) | ||
|---|---|---|
club | Number of points scored | xG |
Nottom Forest | 28 | 37.42 |
tottenham | 40 | 36.98 |
sunderland | 30 | 33.41 |
burnley | 32 | 30.93 |
wolf | twenty two | 29.72 |
Whether ENIC Group and sporting director Johan Lange can lure Pochettino away from the USMNT before the World Cup is another matter, but if there is any chance in that regard, they need to take advantage of it. The 54-year-old is capable of instilling confidence and consistency, uniting the team and setting them up to move away from the drop in the standings.
Although Dyche is a specialist in relegation battles, he is not just an inspirational manager and his pragmatic tactics are likely to be at odds with a group of players whose confidence has been shattered and their connections rather fragile.
De Zerbi, on the other hand, is a top-notch tactician but has an erratic nature and a controversial track record. Both managers will be sacked from their posts in 2026, but Pochettino understands Tottenham, instills energy and focus in his players and has an exciting interpersonal style that should end the continent-wide debate over Spurs’ possible relegation from the Premier League.
Moreover, he was able to promote them over the next few years and build the project again.
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