From early season title contenders to mid-season managerial change, Tottenham Hotspur have had a roller coaster ride in the 2020/21 campaign. The Lilywhites ultimately finished the season in seventh place in the Premier League, securing qualification in the UEFA Conference League while also appearing as one of the most inconsistent teams in the division.
In this article, we will review Tottenham Hotspur’s 2020/21 campaign, as the north London giants brace themselves for a transitional season ahead.
A Complete Tottenham 2020/21 Season Review
Expectations
Heading into the 2020/21 campaign, Tottenham Hotspur were certainly aiming for a top-four finish and a return to Champions League football following a dismal 2019/20 season.
They were expected to perform well in the cup competitions as well, especially in the Europa League, as the north London giants were tagged as the favourites alongside their arch-rivals Arsenal.
Results
Tottenham Hotspur were one of the genuine title contenders during the initial phase of the campaign. Their form eventually died down and they ended up finishing in the seventh spot. They could have finished much lower had it not been for the sacking of Jose Mourinho and a final day comeback win over Leicester City.
In the Europa League, Tottenham performed poorly as well, getting embarrassed by Dinamo Zagreb in the quarter-final while being eliminated from FA Cup fifth round by Everton. The Lilywhites, though, did reach the final of the Carabao Cup, before losing to Manchester City in the final.
The Managers
Jose Mourinho’s highly disciplined, defensive football started out really well while the Portuguese also deserves a lot of credit for managing to create a telepathic bond between Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min. However, his passive approach saw Spurs drop numerous points throughout the campaign and struggle to even dominate lower placed teams.
Interim coach Ryan Mason looked tactically weak but offered a sense of stability and faith in his players. It did boost the morale of the side during the final stretch of the season, although the Englishman is certainly not good enough to remain as the permanent boss.
Best Performer
Harry Kane has been by far the best performer for Tottenham Hotspur, looking virtually unstoppable at times, especially during the first half of the campaign. The forward ended the season with 23 goals and 14 assists, as well as a total goal involvement of 50 in all competitions. He was the highest goalscorer in the league as well, although it appears the Englishman could now be on his way out of north London.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg deserves a special mention as well, having enjoyed stellar success under Mourinho since joining from Southampton last summer. The Dane had to play a lot of football, working his socks off for the club in the middle of the park.
Disappointments
Matt Doherty was by far the biggest disappointment for Tottenham this season. Signed from Wolves to offer competition in the right-back position, the Irishman failed miserably in Mourinho’s four-man backline, often looking clumsy in regards to his defensive positioning. He was only restricted to just one start under Mason as well, and it won’t be surprising to see him leave the club in the summer.
Ones To Watch Out For
Hojbjerg is certainly the one to keep an eye on as Tottenham look to kickstart their preparation for the new season. The former Southampton midfielder has emerged as a real leader for the club, and should Hugo Lloris leaves Spurs in the summer, he might be an ideal candidate for the captaincy role.
How They Can Improve
Tottenham look destined to lose Harry Kane in the summer, which means it could be a busy transfer window ahead for the club. However, the biggest issue Daniel Levy needs to address is the lack of a manager. After Mourinho, it became apparent that the Lilywhites need someone who is well aware of the modern approach to football, so hiring a possession-based coach could be useful in the long run.
