“Disaster” was averted.
The “inconvenient truth” has been revealed.
Tottenham’s players and leaders had little to celebrate after the narrow loss to one of the richest clubs in European football. escaped relegation It was the first time in almost 50 years that they had made it out of England’s top division.
“We do not intend to gloss over anything other than that we have fallen far short of the expectations of this club,” chairman Peter Charrington said in a letter to fans published on Monday.
Tottenham’s 17th place finish last season was seen as an anomaly in the team’s eventual success. win the europa leaguethere was little excuse to perform again 12 months later, other than perhaps a long list of injuries.
Yet Spurs are still there, going into the final round of the season on Sunday just two points outside the relegation zone. at risk This is the first time since 1977 that the team has fallen to the second division.
This would have been the most unlikely relegation since the Premier League was created in 1992, when Tottenham, a member of England’s so-called “big six”, were at the forefront of plans for its launch. Super League canceled immediately Just five years ago, I was the owner of one of the greatest stadiums in Europe.
However, Tottenham beat Everton 1-0, making West Ham’s third-last win over Leeds irrelevant, completing a late-season resurgence that included three wins in their last five games under their recently appointed manager. roberto de zerbihe was brought in to lead rescue efforts in late March.
Tottenham midfielder James Maddison said: “If I hadn’t made that appointment it could have been a disaster.
“But that wasn’t the case.”
But it was too close for comfort for the club’s hierarchy, which has undergone significant changes in recent years, including the departure of its long-serving president. Daniel Levy September – five months after Vinay Venkatesham was appointed CEO, a role he once held at bitter rivals Arsenal.
Mr Charrington said the club had taken its eye off the ball during this “complete reset” in the boardroom.
“As part of that process, we discovered some inconvenient truths: the attributes that set Spurs apart – our football, our ambitions and the connection between our team and our supporters – had been allowed to fade,” he said in an open letter.
“Soccer success was not the driving force behind our decision.”
Charrington presented fans with a list of five promises, including that the club would “invest over multiple transfer windows to rebuild, balance and strengthen” the squad for De Zerbi, who had signed him to a five-year contract.
“There has been a lot of speculation about ownership and the future direction of the club,” Charrington added. “Let me be blunt: Tottenham Hotspur is not for sale. The Lewis family are fully committed to this club and this rebuild.”
“They will provide the stability and investment we need at every level to move us forward, and they view it as a long-term commitment rather than a short-term solution.”
Maddison is delighted that former Brighton and Marseille manager De Zerbi will lead Tottenham through tough times.
“I’m really grateful that the director came in and steered the ship to safety,” Madison said. “To be honest, if it wasn’t for him, I think the situation could have been dire.”
___
AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
