May 20 – With his club at a crossroads almost two years after the euphoria of reaching the Champions League final and talismanic striker Harry Kane almost certain to leave, Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has admitted mistakes were made during what has been a hugely disappointing season – and that it was imperative to restore the club’s DNA.
Spurs, surprisingly given their lack of trophies for the past 13 years, were among the six Premier League teams to sign up to the aborted European Super League.
But this season has been anything but super for the London club who, unless results go their way on the final day of the domestic season this coming Sunday, look like missing out on one or other of the top two European competitions for only the second time in 15 years and, at best, landing among the also-rans entering UEFA’s third-tier Europa Conference League.
Having finally secured long-term target Jose Mourinho in November 2019, to replace Mauricio Pochettino, Levy ended up firing him last month and took the opportunity, as Tottenham welcomed back 10,000 fans for their final home game against Aston Villa on Thursday, to pen an open letter.
“This season, for many reasons, we have not met our raised expectations on the pitch,” Levy wrote, noting that Spurs were top of the Premier League in December.
“’As a Club we have been so focused on delivering the stadium and dealing with the impact of the pandemic, that I feel we lost sight of some key priorities and what’s truly in our DNA,” he said in his programme notes ahead of the match.
After months of behind-closed-doors football because of Covid-19, it was hardly a happy return for the fans who booed their team off the field following a 2-1 defeat, directing much of their anger towards Levy and the board.
Crucial to Tottenham’s future is the appointment of the right manager to succeed Mourinho though very few stellar names are available, making Levy’s choice even harder.
Whoever gets the job has a tough challenge putting Spurs back on the map and making them regular top-four finishers which they were during most of Pochettino’s reign.
Acknowledging the recruitment of the right man was now the priority, Levy said: “We are acutely aware of the need to select someone whose values reflect those of our great Club and return to playing football with the style for which we are known – free-flowing, attacking and entertaining – whilst continuing to embrace our desire to see young players flourish from our Academy alongside experienced talent.”
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