5 Must-Win Games to Propel Tottenham into Next Season's Champions League
Tottenham Hotspur's 3-0 loss to Manchester United two weeks ago put a big dent in their hopes of qualifying for next season's UEFA Champions League. While Mauricio Pochettino's side has since beat Leicester City, fourth-place United's own win over Liverpool put the gap between them and Spurs in seventh at six points.
Liverpool and Southampton are also ahead of Tottenham. With eight games left, the north Londoners will need those around them to drop points. While a long shot, a top-four finish is still achievable.
Of course, all of Spurs' remaining matches are important, but there are five they will almost certainly need to win to propel them into the Champions League.
Over the following pages, we look ahead and explain exactly where it is Spurs need to get things right to secure an extraordinary feat for this young squad.
Burnley (away), Sunday, April 5: Start as You Mean to Go On
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For Tottenham's top-four tilt to prove successful, a strong return from the international break is just about a must. Standing in their way are a Burnley outfit they have already beaten twice and drawn once with this season.
The Clarets held Spurs to a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor (in their FA Cup third-round meeting) in January, but home has not been the fortress the relegation-battling club would have liked (although they did impressively beat Manchester City 1-0 in their last game there).
As Sean Dyche's men look to climb out of the drop zone, another win is important for them too, especially after their 2-0 defeat by Southampton prior to the season's latest interruption.
Spurs have to at least match their efforts if they are to come away with three points. Anything less than that and they risk being upset like a lethargic and uninspired City were.
Aston Villa (home), Saturday, April 11: The Momentum-Sustainer
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If Tottenham defeat Burnley, the next step is sustaining that momentum.
Attempting to halt any progress will be Aston Villa, another club also fighting for its Premier League survival.
The obvious twist to this encounter is the return of former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood, now in charge of Villa. The 46-year-old divided fans during his five months in charge at White Hart Lane.
Spurs became easier on the eye after Sherwood's promotion to first-team boss midway through last season. His familiarity with the club's academy talent also paid off with two of this campaign's standout performers, Nabil Bentaleb and Harry Kane, getting their first substantial runs in the senior side.
While the north London club maintained a challenge for the top four until mid-spring under Sherwood, his outspoken persona was not to everyone's taste. Strategical eccentricities and the club's continued struggles against the eventual top four were given short shrift by many as a result.
Sherwood's return will be of little concern to Pochettino and his players. Still, a failure to get the better of the man the Argentine replaced would not do much for confidence down the final stretch.
Southampton (away), Saturday, April 25: Pochettino Takes on the Ex
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Pochettino will be more concerned about facing his own ex. Southampton are still in the hunt for a Champions League place too.
Tottenham's 1-0 win over Ronald Koeman's side in October was one of their better performances in Pochettino's first few months in charge.
Spurs still needed time to find themselves afterwards, but it proved just a temporary deviation for Southampton in a season marked by its impressive consistency (relative for a club competing with less spending power than those around them).
The game is the best part of a month away, and the situation may have altered somewhat by then.
Should both still be in contention to join Europe's elite next season, St Mary's could be set for one of the most important games of the season.
Manchester City (home), Saturday, May 2: Statement Game
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In April 2013, Tottenham beat Manchester City 3-1 at White Hart Lane. Late goals from Clint Dempsey, Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale overturned Samir Nasri's opener in a superb second-half showing from Andre Villas-Boas' side.
The victory strengthened Spurs' charge for a Champions League place and damaged Man City's hopes of retaining their Premier League crown. Both missed out on their objectives.
A potentially similar scenario awaits on May 2. Both again have the same targets and could end the other's hopes of achieving them with a victory.
It is likely to be even tougher for Spurs this time.
Two years ago, City were in the last days of Roberto Mancini's successful but contentious reign. While speculation persists over current manager Manuel Pellegrini's job—the Mirror's David Anderson reported on Wednesday they are considering possible replacements—there seems to be more harmony around the Sky Blues' camp this time around.
Following their disappointing defeat at Burnley (not to mention their humbling by Barcelona in the Champions League), last week's 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion showed a side not prepared to give up without a fight.
While Man City are in better shape than in 2013, Spurs will still believe they can catch them out.
They will need to have improved defensively by the time they face Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Co. Should they tidy up here, their home form against top-four rivals since Christmas (a draw with Manchester United, wins over Chelsea and Arsenal) could give them enough confidence to beat City for the first time since the aforementioned clash.
Everton (away), Sunday, May 24: The Decider?
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Were things to go spectacularly for Tottenham, Champions League football could be wrapped up before the last day of the season.
Being realistic, though, Spurs' mixed recent form and the competitiveness of this battle (not to mention the toll their 57-game season might yet take on them) means the most likely scenario will involve a last-day decider.
In 2005-06, they were denied fourth place by a loss at West Ham United. They won their last games in 2011-12 and 2012-13 but missed out on qualification because of results elsewhere.
Everton at Goodison Park is the last obstacle here in 2014-15.
Currently in 13th place and nine points clear of the relegation zone, the Toffees will hope to be safe by then. Even if they are, Roberto Martinez's underachievers will surely be keen to head into next season on a positive note.
Christian Eriksen and Roberto Soldado have recently referred to every remaining game possessing the significance of a cup final. It is a handy motivational method, perhaps one that is being utilised throughout the Tottenham squad.
On May 24, they could well face a decider of the team's fate that carries even more of a final quality.
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