As the Premier League season draws to a close, Tottenham appear set to miss out on Champions League football for a second successive season.
Currently seventh and five points from fourth placed Chelsea, the 2020/2021 season will likely be chalked down as one to forget.
Fresh off the back of a defeat in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City, Tottenham have a chance to return to winning ways against already relegated Sheffield United. Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades picked up a rare win against Brighton last time out with many players hoping end of season performances could earn a move to stay in the top-flight.
For Spurs’ host of stars, the last five games of the Premier League season will be keenly viewed by their new manager, whoever that may be. The Tottenham players have appeared devoid of confidence, with former player Ryan Mason slowly turning around the fanbase, which had become despondent in Jose Mourinho’s final days.
Harry Kane’s future remains up for debate as always seems the case, Spurs battling for European football to keep their star man in north London.
But these final games are not for Kane to further showcase his ability. Instead, players such as Dele Alli and Steven Bergwijn will view this as a fresh start. For Bergwijn, a standout performer in the Eredivisie, the potential arrival of Erik Ten Hag should represent an exciting new chapter in his Spurs career.
Though fans will hope any upturn in form of their fringe players result in success on the pitch next season, for Daniel Levy, the prospect of a change in performances represents a greater chance to sell.
A player once coveted by many of Europe’s top clubs, Dele Alli has now depreciated. His stock has lowered and despite a rumoured move to PSG last January, Levy would find it hard to shift the midfielder.
Despite the positive opportunities to impress for players in Alli’s position, interim manager Ryan Mason will be eager to impress in his limited time at the Spurs helm. The 29-year-old will know Daniel Levy will require some kind of European football to be played in N17 next season, with a place in the Europa League not secured yet for the Lilywhites.
After their 3-1 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in January, Spurs aim to complete their first Premier League double over the Blades on Sunday night. After success against Graham Potter’s Brighton, the visitors aim for back-to-back wins in the league for the first time since July 2020.
The two teams possess important strikers, with David McGoldrick scoring 39 per cent of Sheffield United’s goal this season, Kane second in that statistic with 38 per cent of Spurs’ strikes.
A good result and performance from the home side could lift the spirits of a fanbase angry at ownership for decisions made on the European Super League. Mason and the squad will hope to win and win well to let Spurs fans remember the identity they want their team to have on the pitch.
Tom Hardy will be at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for Spurs’ Premier League fixture with Sheffield United on Sunday.
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