Sunday match against Everton na di biggest game for Tottenham in recent history. Di club dey fight for survival, with dia Premier League status on di line. Only one scenario fit send Spurs go Championship: if dem lose to Everton and West Ham beat Leeds for London Stadium.
If Spurs avoid relegation, fans go celebrate, but na relief, not joy. Whatever di result, fans go dey angry because dis campaign don be disaster. One year ago, dem dey celebrate Europa League glory with 220,000 fans for parade. But ending 17-year trophy drought no save Ange Postecoglou, as club finish 17th for Premier League.
Di message then na say club must compete on all fronts. Now, only one front matter: final day survival. Tottenham need reset, but dem need am while still for Premier League. E hard to believe di ninth richest club for world fit fall to Championship.
How we reach here? Di trouble start for summer. Thomas Frank, wey replace Postecoglou, no be correct fit. Some players like am, but odas no take to di Dane. He outstay welcome, and dem for don sack am earlier, especially after West Ham loss for January.
Injury crisis don make matters worse. Losing key players like Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, and Mohammed Kudus, plus summer loss of club legend Heung-Min Son, make season hard. Losing become expected for dis group of players.
Last season, Europa League na main focus, Premier League take back seat. Spurs become first team for top-flight history to lose 22 games for 38-match season and still no dey relegated. Dis season, Europa League focus continue, but di top-four finish for Champions League phase table under Frank create false confidence. Di opponents dem beat na Europa League level.
Players no get control over decisions from top. Frank for don go earlier, and signings no dey good enough. January window poor: only Conor Gallagher come as major winter signing, even though injury list dey long. No replace Brennan Johnson, wey dem sell for £35m to Crystal Palace, na big mistake.
Another regret na di appointment of Igor Tudor. Di Croatian come tell players dem no good enough. No wonder he last only seven games. Roberto De Zerbi don make desired impact; if he take charge earlier, Spurs for dey 12th or 13th.
Controversial VAR calls no help. Spurs yet to win penalty for Premier League dis season. But officiating na minor factor as dem head to final day for 17th, needing point to guarantee safety.
Spurs go look for hero, and e feel like James Maddison fit be dat. He don make huge impact off bench for two appearances after returning from serious knee injury. Fans dey ask: Can he start? But di information be say he no fit give much more than di minutes he already play. If nothing to play for, we no for see am. But di situation dey desperate, dem need im quality. He be leader and presence off pitch.
I expect Maddison for start for bench for tense day. E no surprise me if both Tottenham and West Ham draw, but I expect Hammers to take lead at some point. If Spurs dey relegated after defeat, dem get only themselves to blame. Painful part: north London rivals Arsenal fit lift Premier League trophy on same day. Only four years ago, Spurs beat Arsenal 3-0 to secure fourth under Antonio Conte. Now, two sides fit play for different divisions next season.
Roberto De Zerbi confirm say Dominic Solanke dey available for selection after hamstring injury wey keep am out for almost month. He miss matches against Villa, Leeds, and Chelsea. De Zerbi say dem go decide if he start or not. For James Maddison, wey return from ACL injury, De Zerbi say e dey available but dem go analyse physical condition before deciding minutes. Djed Spence, wey suffer facial injury against Chelsea, also dey available. De Zerbi say di challenge on Spence for red card, but dem no get time to waste on refereeing decisions.
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