Clive Allen has admitted that some serious questions have to be asked of the Tottenham players and Jose Mourinho following the club’s capitulation against Dinamo Zagreb yesterday evening.
Tottenham came into the game as overwhelming favourites to progress to the next round after having won the first leg 2-0.
Despite making some changes to the side from Sunday’s North London Derby loss, Jose Mourinho named a strong starting line up for yesterday’s clash.
However, Spurs produced what was arguably their poorest performance of the season as the home side scored two second-half goals to draw level in the tie.
It was Dinamo Zagreb who emerged as winners in extra time as Mislav Orsic completed his hat-trick. Allen admitted that the nature of Tottenham’s capitulation was unacceptable.
The former Spurs striker told talkSPORT: “It’s going to be a very difficult end to the season.
“Yes, they do have the Carabao Cup final to play for, but the way in which they relinquished the two-goal lead. The look and way they performed for three-quarters of this tie.
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“They looked in control, but the capitulation and nature of the chances created by Zagreb to win this tie was very disappointing.
“Very poor defending. Fantastic finishes by Orsic but lots of questions to be asked in the way they played and couldn’t respond. In the end, it’s a disastrous result for Spurs.”
Before last night’s clash, the Europa League looked to be Tottenham’s best chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, with the top four now looking like a tough challenge for the North Londoners.
Allen insisted that Spurs have blown the chances they had to restart the season by losing some big matches in recent weeks.
He added: “For me, there’s been two massive Premier League games that could have changed the course of Spurs’ season. West Ham away, which they lose, and Arsenal away on Sunday, which they lost.
“Three points would have fired their season, in terms of Premier League and finishing in the top four, that didn’t happen.
“It seemed all the eggs were put in one basket, and that was this competition.
“A position of strength going into it, but disastrous coming out of it.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I have been patient with Mourinho all the way through but after last night’s result, it appears as if the writing is on the wall for the Portuguese coach. Unless we win the Carabao Cup and somehow manage to claw ourselves back into the top four, I believe Levy will pull the plug in the summer.
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