MY ACCOUNT
Tottenham can still finish in the top four — and Gary Mabbutt believes Antonio Conte is the perfect man to get them there.
Returning to the Champions League was the aim when Spurs went unbeaten in their first nine games under the Italian, but a disastrous run of form since has left those hopes in doubt.
An inconsistent spell has left them six points behind North London rivals Arsenal, who currently occupy fourth spot ahead of Spurs’ Monday night clash with Everton.
Five defeats in eight games in all competitions has also seen them dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship side Middlesbrough, meaning their wait for a major trophy will enter its 15th year.
But former defender Mabbutt — who won the FA Cup and UEFA Cup with the Lilywhites — says achieving that Champions League spot is still within Spurs’ capabilities, pointing to their thrilling 3-2 victory over Manchester City last month as reason to be optimistic.
Speaking at the London Football Awards, Mabbutt exclusively told LiveScore: “The top four still has to be our aim. We’re competing with West Ham and Arsenal, two London clubs and of course Manchester United.
“But I feel that other clubs have been throwing away points left, right and centre.
“Our performance at Manchester City, I thought, was outstanding.
“Everyone talks about Harry Kane and Sonny [Heung-Min Son] how good they were on the day, but also as a team I thought we showed a lot that we’ve got.”
Conte arrived at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November with an excellent reputation after winning league titles in both England and Italy during time at Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan.
But he has found things more difficult at Spurs, publicly voicing his frustration at his team’s precarious situation following a 1-0 defeat to relegation contenders Burnley last month.
But Mabbutt is in no doubt that Conte — who took over from Nuno Espirito Santo — is the right man to guide his old club back to success.
He added: “Conte knows exactly what he needs to do. There’s still work to be done but I like Conte. I like his passion and enthusiasm for the game — sometimes madness on the touchline!
“I’ve always liked Conte. During his time at Chelsea, he was always a manager I had a lot of respect for.
“At Inter Milan, he did an amazing job. I’ve always liked the way he gets his team going. He always gets the best out of his players, that will be the aim now at Spurs.
“I think he can instill that confidence into the players to give us a great chance of getting into the top four.”
“Turbulent” Spurs need consistency
Meanwhile, Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith — who spent eight successful years at Spurs’ North London rivals Arsenal — is less convinced and says consistency is the key if the 2018-19 Champions League finalists are to reclaim their seat at Europe’s top table.
The 59-year-old said: “One match they look like they’re heading in the right direction and next, you’re looking at the floor if you’re a Spurs fan!
“It’s that consistency [that they need]. It’s something they’ve always had in their team and he’s [Conte] getting more and more frustrated so it’s a turbulent time there.
“Maybe he thinks he’s bitten off more than he could chew but he should have had a good look at the squad when he first came in.
“He knew what he was going into so it would be wrong to say ‘this is more than I thought it was going to be’.
“But you can see the frustration because he’s always been a winner and maybe he sees his reputation being damaged and that’s what he’s fearful of the most.”
Kane’s summer saga
Whether Spurs beat off their rivals for a top-four spot could have a knock-on effect over whether talisman Kane remains at the club.
The 28-year-old was denied the chance to join Manchester City last summer but has been in inspiring form for Tottenham of late — netting 18 goals in all competitions this term.
Reports indicate the striker is much happier at the club since Conte took over, but that desire to remain in North London could be tested if Spurs are not playing Champions League football next season.
On the England captain’s future, Mabbutt said: “There are always going to be talks about Harry Kane. I love it when people ask me about Kane because it means that the club is bringing players through.
“I think he’s been showing in these last few weeks what a top player he is. A player of his quality, a number of teams in the world would want Harry Kane in their side.
“We want to keep him at Spurs, we’ve done everything possible to keep him at Spurs and hopefully he’ll stay with us.”
On the possibility of another summer transfer saga involving Kane, Smith added: “You don’t know if Man City will be back in for him. Maybe they will after the performance at the Etihad the other day but there are other people in the fray.
“Erling Haaland, where is he going to go? Because I’d say he will be on the move this summer. He’s someone that City would look at. He’s younger, obviously.
“Kane is one of the best centre-forwards I’ve seen performing in this country. He is just the complete striker and he showed that at City the other day.
“The last thing that Spurs want is a saga that’ll drag on right through to the summer.”
