Time for a change

For the last two years or so, we don’t recognize Tottenham Hotspur FC. Our club earned a place in the 2019 Champions League final through hard work, a will to win, and tactical finesse. Since that history-making season in 2019, Spurs’ glorious winning run has come to an abrupt end. The Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid brings back memories of a wasted opportunity and past excellence.

Fans watched the opening seconds of the match with great joy, excitement, and high expectations for Tottenham’s team. But already in the 24th second came the bitter disillusionment: Sadio Mané played a pass to his teammate Moussa Sissoko in the penalty area, which ended in a penalty kick. The precise shot was taken by Mo Salah, the Egyptian player who has been Liverpool’s goalscorer for years. That was the beginning of the end. Although Kane and Co. dominated the game and claimed most of the possession, Spurs were unable to give Liverpool a run for their money.

With half an hour to go, Tottenham put all their eggs in one basket and began to put enormous pressure on their opponents’ defence. This put Spurs at risk for counterattacks, and they conceded another goal from Divock Origi just before the end of the game.

With this defeat against Liverpool FC, the Spurs era came to an end, as what followed was wild chaos of coaching changes and futile attempts to lead Spurs back to the Road to Glory. In the meantime, it is difficult to make accurate predictions of the games, and I have thoroughly lost the desire to bet on sports. My fandom is like a never-ending rollercoaster ride: sometimes I find myself cheering and jumping for joy in front of the TV, other times I feel like turning my back on Spurs. But as a loyal Spurs supporter, I know there are always ups and downs, and we are not the first club to struggle. Just look at Barcelona. With Suarez, the Catalans seem to have lost their winning streak and the Corona pandemic has dealt the club a death blow. Messi now plays for PSG, and the Parisians seem to be swimming in money and success.

With Harry Kane’s aspirations to say goodbye to Spurs and join Manchester City, we could face the same fate as Barcelona. Fortunately, our president Daniel Levy has more foresight than Spain’s Joan Laporta. All offers for Kane have been rejected, forcing the striker to honour his contract, which is valid until 2024.

The ebb and flow of emotions during the games and Kane’s aspirations leave a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. Nonetheless, I have pointed out in my earlier posts that we need to learn again to find passion and liking for our club. My support of Spurs began 20 years ago and is not to end in 2021.

I have noticed that I focus too much on the performances and have increasingly lost sight of the love for the sport itself. Now that the restriction of the virus continues to subside, and we can gradually resume our old familiar lives, it’s time to move on to other thoughts. A home for holidays on Tenerife is possibly the perfect everyday escape that lets me collect my thoughts. With summer temperatures under the Balearic sun, I want to think back to the days of great players such as Robbie Keane, Teddy Sheringham, and Dimitar Berbatov in the early 2000s. The players took the club forward decisively and led Tottenham to the League Cup winner’s podium in 2008. Aaron Lennon, Gareth Bale, and Ledley King will also always have a place in my heart.

I am convinced that the future holds great things for Spurs.