Should Tottenham still be considered a top club in the Premier League?
Ange Postecoglou's quest to end Tottenham's Hotspurs trophy drought took a major step on October 30th, beating Premier League champions Manchester City to reach the EFL Cup quarterfinals.
Timo Werner and Pape Sarr gave Spurs a two-goal lead before Manchester City's Matheus Nunes pulled one back before halftime. Despite late pressure, Spurs held on to set up a date with Manchester United in the next round.
However, the most recent result against Manchester City is just a small success in 20 years' worth of hurt and embarrassment for Spurs at the highest level.
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After an incredible start, Tottenham was top of the Premier League in the first two months of last season, but things got 'Spursy,' for lack of a better word, and they finished fifth, missing out on a Champions League spot by two points.
In the past five seasons, since 2019-2020, Tottenham has only finished in the Champions League spots once, which begs the question: Is Tottenham still considered a top club in the Premier League?
Stereotypically, the top clubs in England fall under the 'Big 6' umbrella, which includes Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Tottenham.
According to One Football, to be considered a top club or part of the 'Big 6,' a team must be consistent every season, challenge for the league and Champions League, and win trophies.
After one Champions League finish in the past five seasons, how have they fared on the silverware side of things? Well, it's been 16 years since Tottenham last won a major trophy after they beat Chelsea 2-1 in the 2008 League Cup final.
For a top club, 16 years without significant silverware is unacceptable, especially when you consider what the other teams in the 'Big 6' have won in that time.
Manchester United and Chelsea have won 13 major trophies, Manchester City has won 19, Arsenal has secured four FA Cups, and Liverpool has won seven major honours (not including UEFA Super Cups and Community Shields).
Despite the immense disparity between Tottenham and the other five clubs in the 'Big 6,' boss Ange Postecoglou is supremely confident he can end the drought and heartache.
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After the loss against Arsenal, a reporter asked the Tottenham manager about his preseason comments on winning a trophy in his second season, and his confidence in his current squad shone through.
According to The Standard, Postecoglou said: "I'll correct myself - I don't usually win things; I always win things in my second year. Nothing's changed. I've said it now. I don't say things unless I believe them."
Since the last time they won a trophy in 2008, Spurs have reached four major cup finals, losing three in the League Cup and one in the Champions League final after a magical run in 2019.
Since its founding in 1882, the club does technically deserve its top club/'Big 6' title because it is the sixth most successful club in the country, with 26 total trophies. Aston Villa is one behind Spurs in those rankings and is in the Champions League this season.
Postecoglou does know how to win a thing or two. In his managerial career, he has secured 14 senior major honours worldwide, from Australia to Japan and Scotland.
With a now-settled team that knows how Postecoglou likes to work and the addition of forward Dom Solanke, will Spurs finally end their drought and challenge in all competitions?
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