Tottenham Hotspur’s bid to qualify for the UEFA Champions League suffered a hammer blow on Sunday as they conceded five times in the first 21 minutes of a humiliating 6-1 defeat at top-four rivals Newcastle United.
Acting coach Cristian Stellini’s side were buried by an avalanche of goals from Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak, who both netted twice, and strikes from Joelinton and Callum Wilson.
Harry Kane’s reply was no consolation for woeful Tottenham, who look certain to miss out on a place in the EnglishPremier League’s top four after a second successive loss.
Photo: Reuters
The north Londoners are six points behind third-placed Newcastle and fourth-placed Manchester United, having played two more games than Manchester and one more than Newcastle.
Fifth-placed Tottenham host Manchester on Thursday and a defeat against Erik ten Hag’s team would surely end their faint hopes of salvaging their troubled campaign.
“It was my responsibility to decide how we play. We decided to do it differently because of the injuries, but it was wrong,” Stellini said of switching to a back four.
“It’s very difficult to understand why the first 25 minutes were so bad. We were not prepared to play this type of tough game. To suffer, control the space and win duels,” he added.
There is a bleak future ahead for Tottenham, who have no permanent manager lined up for next season and no director of soccer after Fabio Paratici’s resignation on Friday.
Paratici stepped down after failing in his appeal against a 30-month worldwide FIFA ban for his involvement in allegations of false accounting at his former club Juventus.
Tottenham’s heaviest defeat of the season was a new low for a club already in turmoil after Antonio Conte’s departure by “mutual consent” in March after just 16 months in charge.
Conte had exposed the rifts behind the scenes at Tottenham when he called the players “selfish” and criticized the club’s culture in an explosive rant after their draw at lowly Southampton.
Tottenham have not won a major trophy since 2008 and their latest setback could increase the chances of England striker Harry Kane asking to leave in the close season.
Fans are also unhappy with chairman Daniel Levy, who has gone through a host of unsuccessful managers since sacking the popular Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.
Tottenham captain Lloris apologized to supporters, saying that the performance was “embarrassing” and accusing his teammates of lacking “pride.”
In contrast to Tottenham’s struggles, Newcastle are riding the crest of a wave that should carry them into the Champions League for the first time since 2003, when they were eliminated in the qualifying rounds.
“You don’t expect that. The quality of our finishing was incredible,” Howe said of the game. “Since I walked through the door here the players have responded so well. I can’t thank them enough.”
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