Jenas: Past failures will spur Tottenham on in title race

Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas has suggested that Spurs have a shot at winning the Premier League title this season.

In an article that Jenas wrote for the BBC after Spurs thrashed Everton 6-2 at Goodison Park, the 35-year-old said that Spurs have been getting better and better over the last few weeks.

The former England International identified Pochettino’s ability to manage his squad as the primary reason behind Spurs’ improved performances.

He wrote, “They (Spurs) are reaping the rewards of Mauricio Pochettino’s training methods and the way he rotates his team. Sometimes he rests players for important games, but what people often don’t pick up on are the times he plays them through the moments when it might seem like they need a break.”

“Mauricio understands how sometimes players need to do that to get fitter, and now he is reaping the rewards.”

Jenas also wrote that while he expects Spurs to challenge for the league, he doesn’t expect them to win it. He added, “It has been so tight at the top between Liverpool and Manchester City until this weekend that many people were not talking about Spurs as being contenders. They are now.”

“It is easy to get over-excited after an outstanding display like the one I watched at Goodison Park but, while I still think they might ultimately fall short of the title, there is no doubt they are in with a shout.”

The 35-year-old also suggested that Tottenham’s past failures will spur them on in their quest to win the title. Pochettino’s side came close to winning the title during the 15-16 season where they pushed Leicester City till the end and the 16-17 season when they were beaten to the title by Chelsea.

Referring to those close run-in’s and Tottenham’s failure to ultimately get over the line, Jenas added: “They also know what it is like to be in this situation and fail. Experiences like the horrible defeats they suffered against Chelsea and Newcastle at the end of the 2015-16 season are with this side because the same players are still at the club.”

“They all felt what it was like to fall short and their desire for it to be different this time is inside them, and it is driving them on in every single game.”

Tottenham fans will certainly be dreaming of another title challenge after how easily Spurs dispatched the Everton side yesterday. Additionally, this is usually the time in the season when Pochettino’s Tottenham peak, and given the fairly straightforward run of fixtures Spurs have in the next few weeks, they will be hoping to close the gap on Liverpool and Man City even further.

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