Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou has ‘advantage’ over Premier League rivals in Champions League race
Tottenham have an advantage over their rivals in the race for Champions League football this season because they are only competing in the Premier League, according to Alan Hutton.
Spurs have fallen back out of the Premier League’s top four, following their 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Saturday (17 February) with Aston Villa climbing above Ange Postecoglou’s side following their win over Fulham.
However, every team currently above Spurs in the table remain in European competition this season, with Manchester City and Arsenal fighting for the Champions League, Liverpool chasing the Europa League and Villa eyeing the Europa Conference League.
While Hutton admits that the Tottenham squad would much rather be competing for these sorts of European honours themselves, he thinks the added rest could help Postecoglou’s side across the remainder of the domestic campaign.
“It gives them a slight advantage,” Hutton told Tottenham News.
“Some of the top teams will be playing midweek. I can’t remember exactly how the fixtures work out at this moment in time, but I think it gives you an opportunity to rest your players first and foremost.
“You can get back on the grass, really work on things and really dial into what you’re trying to do. Of course, they look like they’re all pulling in the same direction which is obviously good, but I think it gives you that rest more than anything.
“You don’t have those big, midweek fixtures where you have to travel to different countries, so of course that could help them.”
Can Ange Postecoglou get Tottenham into the Champions League?
Spurs were nowhere near good enough during their clash with Wolves and the defeat to Gary O’Neil’s side would have made supporters question whether or not Tottenham have what it takes to finish in the top four this term.
However, as the European calendar starts up again and the teams in and around them face long journeys for midweek fixtures, Postecoglou’s side could be presented with the perfect opportunity to move ahead of the cashing pack, especially with the attacking talent in their squad.
Performances on the whole will have to improve and Spurs will have to stop dropping points in matches that are more than winnable, but the foundations are there for Tottenham to return to Europe’s premier competition this term.
In other Tottenham news, Hutton has labelled one Spurs star a modern-day “legend” in a new top-four verdict
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