Why FA Cup Exit Will Prove a Blessing for Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham Hotspur's 2-1 defeat to Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round was a disappointment and a shock result. 

Spurs have famously snatched many late victories this season, but it was a late slip that saw the Foxes sneak through the tie.

The lesson that Mauricio Pochettino's side should have learned from their somewhat fortuitous league win over the same opposition, namely Leicester are not nearly as poor as their league position would indicate, cost them dearly. 

While Spurs fans are desperate to renew their intimate relationship with the trophy they've won eight times, the painful exit to an unremarkable Leicester side has its advantages. 

Tottenham's season remains very much alive with a Wembley final looming, the Europa League campaign about to resume and the attritional Premier League season far from over. 

Had Spurs beaten Leicester, they would presumably have faced Aston Villa. Victory over the hapless Villans would have been the first of three more matches required just to reach Wembley. With an already choked calendar, Spurs could really do without adding four more fixtures to the list. 

Of course, the very point of a football club is to try to win things. Another early FA Cup exit is not good news for Tottenham. It does, however, have a benefit. 

Tottenham worked their way through the busiest possible January. Nine matches in 31 days is a remarkable pace. Even Liverpool played one game fewer while Arsenal played only five. 

Now, as Spurs' red-shirted top-four rivals prepare for fifth-round ties, there is a gap in Tottenham's appointment book. Finally, Spurs get a break. 

Not since November, when many of the players departed for international fixtures across the globe, have Spurs had a nine-day gap between fixtures. Deep in the sapping cold of February, such a break has remarkable restorative properties. 

Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen, Tottenham's match-winning duo, have played 34 and 32 matches, respectively, across all competitions this season. More, if you include their international commitments. They will benefit massively from some time away from the pitch. 

Playing in Pochettino's aggressive, demanding system means Spurs players are under immense physical pressure. This time off is hugely important. 

This break has value beyond simply giving the players time to rest. 

It means Pochettino, a notoriously detail-oriented manager, has time to review his plans for the remainder of the season. 

It also gives Pochettino, the man who prefers to be known as "coach" rather than "manager," time to work with his players and improve their understanding of his system. 

Eric Dier opted to forego an under-21 call in November to stay in north London and work on his game. His performances in several games since then, most notably the north London derby, demonstrated the value of that extra time with his coach. 

Pochettino, himself a defender as a player, has been working with his defence all season. While it has continued to improve, weaknesses remain. If he can use this time to tighten his back four, Spurs will come away a far stronger side. 

Tottenham face seemingly decisive fixtures almost every week for the rest of this season. A trip to Florence in the Europa League comes just days before the Spurs face Chelsea in the League Cup final.

Win or lose at Wembley, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Swansea will travel to White Hart Lane three days later with every intention of derailing Tottenham's Champions League ambitions. 

This immensely promising season appears poised to be determined by the finest of margins. 

An extended break between fixtures could prove the difference as Spurs recover strength while improving under Pochettino's watchful eye on the training ground. 

If Spurs lift the League Cup, the Europa League or finish in the top four, this enforced break will have proven to be a blessing indeed.