Europa League a burden for Spurs

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With Man City winning the League Cup, 6th place is ‘good enough’ to secure Europa League football. I’d rather Spurs finish 7th.

In each of the last two seasons we’ve entered spring looking like contenders to qualify for the Champions League. And then we’ve not only fallen away, we’ve also been knocked out of the Europa League.

Spurs are looking tired, as they did this time last season. A year ago we had Gareth Bale to paper over some cracks. This year we don’t and that’s why we’ve drifted a few more points behind.

As we’re seeing with Liverpool, who have not been in Europe this season, their key players can play in every game as they’re still fresh. They also don’t have to travel around the far reaches of Europe and thus get more recovery time.

We have two winnable home games left, but I don’t expect Stoke or West Ham will give us an easy game in our two remaining away fixtures. Our ‘rivals’ for 6th, Man Utd, have three winnable home games left, a trip to Saints (who are probably already on the beach) and, trickiest of all, a trip to Everton. On paper, Man Utd should just edge us out.

I am sure whoever is in charge of Spurs next season will be relieved if they don’t have to go through the trudge of Europa League football. It’s the ugly cousin of the Champions League and unless it’s revamped, will always remain so.

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