Tottenham slumped to their second successive Premier League defeat this weekend against Liverpool, with the 2-1 loss leaving them 6 points adrift of the leaders after only five games played.
This came after a shock defeat to Watford the week before, after leading the game 1-0.
Tottenham have been far from their impressive selves all season, despite winning their first three Premier League games.
They have often looked off the pace, tired and sluggish in possession, with many blaming this on the fact that nine of their first team stars’ countries played the maximum number of games at the World Cup.
Tottenham take on Inter Milan in the Champions League tonight, but manager Mauricio Pochettino argues that Spurs are not contenders for anything this season in their current form.
Poch said: “We are not realistic contenders in any single competition, that is my view.
“If we show the same face as against Watford, it’s impossible to be a contender. If we show the face [we showed against] Liverpool, it will be so difficult.
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“If we show some of what we did against Manchester United then maybe yes. I explained after Old Trafford it was difficult to keep the feet on the grass and believe that the job was done.
“But we need to work harder and be more competitive and improve. The last two defeats are so good but it is a wake-up call and we have to try and improve and we have time. It is only the start of the season.
“We have to show our best and show we deserve to be a contender. We need to be consistent to be a contender.
“It is important for them to see the reality if they are going to improve. And if we are going to be a contender then we need to improve a lot. A lot. If not we will be a good team, we will win some and lose some, but a contender is different.
“In my mind if you want to be a contender you need to show much, much more. We won three games in a row and after went to Watford and Liverpool and were not capable to win, it is difficult to be considered a contender.”
We have seen a new side to Pochettino this season, as he has been heavily criticising his own players, something we have never really seen from the Argentine before.
It’s as if Poch realises that this Tottenham crop are now longer young and inexperienced, and therefore cannot hide behind excuses anymore.
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