Why a domestic cup would represent a great leap forward for Tottenham | OneFootball

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Dan Burke·24 April 2018

Why a domestic cup would represent a great leap forward for Tottenham

Article image:Why a domestic cup would represent a great leap forward for Tottenham

“It would be fantastic to win the FA Cup. But is it going to change our life? I don’t believe so.”

Those were Mauricio Pochettino’s words prior to Tottenham Hotspur’s Wembley clash with Manchester United at the weekend and in the wake of the club’s eighth successive FA Cup semi-final defeat, they only seem more baffling.


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But before we go any further, let’s put things in perspective.

Pochettino has done a brilliant job during the four years he’s been at Spurs and transformed the club from also-rans into Champions League regulars and respected Premier League title contenders.

He has cultivated an attractive style of football executed by a very watchable team on a limited budget compared to his domestic competitors and by the start of next season, he will have overseen a move to a new stadium which represents one of the most important developments in the club’s history.

The Argentine has been an unmitigated success in every aspect of his management except trophies won, which makes his apparent lack of enthusiasm for domestic cup competitions all the more confusing.

Like it or not, teams are defined and remembered by the silverware they collect and though an FA Cup might not immediately elevate this Spurs side into the pantheon of greats, it would at least be the first step on the long road to greatness.

Spurs have made progress in every single season of Pochettino’s stewardship but if he isn’t careful, there will come a point in the not-too-distant future when that trajectory will begin to flatline and questions will have to be asked about whether simply being competitive is really enough.

And if the Lilywhites faithful aren’t at least a little bit concerned about the possibility of some of their best players beginning to drift away from the project, they probably should be.

Kyle Walker left the club in search of medals last summer and his decision has been thoroughly vindicated.

Toby Alderweireld and Danny Rose will likely follow Walker out of the exit door at the end of the season, and how long might it be before the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen begin to wonder whether their chances of success and a more attractive remuneration package are better elsewhere?

Article image:Why a domestic cup would represent a great leap forward for Tottenham

Nobody believes Pochettino wanted to lose the semi-final on Saturday but his post-match comments suggested he’s now even less interested in making a domestic cup the first trophy of his managerial career next season.

“Yes, I am thinking with Tottenham to play with kids the next time. I agree with you,” he said.

“It is my job to be criticised when we don’t win. The problem is the perception sometimes is not realistic. But maybe next we will provide the possibility to play with kids and I’m sure it will be fantastic for experience and everything. Then we stop to arrive in this situation.”

You can understand why the criticism he’s come under of late must be frustrating.

The expectation that Spurs should be competing for trophies and playing Champions League football every year would not exist were it not for the work Pochettino has done and he deserves great credit for the way he’s got the club punching above its weight.

But if he doesn’t think he should be judged on winning lesser-competitions, then he will ultimately be judged on how he does in the much bigger ones and if Spurs don’t get their hands on a Premier League title or Champions League soon, then what has it all been for?

In the grand scheme of things, progressing as a club without winning trophies is like playing well without scoring goals. You might get full marks for effort, but nobody remembers the losing team.