Where do Spurs go from here?

FRANKIE CHRISTOU - @FrankieChristou

Tottenham Hotspur have endured probably their most emotionally wrenching season as they opened thier new state of the art stadium and reached a Champions League final for the first time in their history. 

Now the dust has settled from their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Saturday night in Madrid, the club now has to face up to questions they have been avoiding all season.

Do they now build on their first taste of success by investing into a squad that will suit their £1 billion stadium, or do they let this year fade into a distant memory that will be carried by the generation to be lucky enough to experience it?

Tottenham's rise under Mauricio Pochettino has been one of phenomenal over achievements. They managed to finish second in the 2016-17 season with 86 points, the biggest return in their history. That was followed up with third place finish last season, and a Champions League final this year. 

However, the questions that have been surrounding the club for months are now finally at the forefront this summer. 

How are they going to rebuild? 

Pochettino has now been at Tottenham for five seasons, a five year plan which he has fulfilled. He has imensely overachieved, Spurs have endured their most consistent success under him and there is no surprise that the big fishes are trying to prize him away from the club.  

If he was to leave Spurs, doing it now would make it seem like a natural departure. After five years of success, bowing out on a Champions League final would be a good note to leave on.

The Champions League final would have only broadened the horizons of his managerial potential, making him more hungry for sliverware and the question he will be asking himself this summer is whether he can deliver silverwere Tottenham. 

Pochettino is a world-class manager who could be on par with Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola if he was given the same financial backing. 

However, the Argentinean revealed in his post-match conference that he is a ‘romantic’ and has the fighting spirit of Che Guevara. An indication that he wants to stay at the club and build on what he has already achieved by launching another five year plan.  

But the question is, where do Spurs simply go from here?

Sprus only have to look at other European clubs to see what needs to be done to maintain thier success. As failure in any compeition usually incites hunger to come back stronger. 

Last year finalists and this year’s Champions League winners, Liverpool overachieved by getting to the final last season. They lost 3-1 to Real Madrid as poor goalkeeping and defending ended Liverpool’s European love affiar. 

They patched up thier mishaps by splashing out on a world class keeper in Alison, while also securing Virgil Van Dijk from Southampton for a record breaking fee. 

The impact of the two record signings have been clear. 97 points in the Premier League, the best defense, a PFA winner, a golden glove and now Champions League winners – they are now regarded amongst Europe’s elite footballers and have propelled the club back into European stardom. 

A similar comparison can be made for Real Madrid. Their five year cycle ended last year, and the sale of Ronaldo to Juventus marked it. After three consecutive Champions Leagues, they have had a dreadful season in La Liga and was knocked out in Round 16 in this year’s competition League by Ajax after losing 4-1 at home. 

How have they responded? Already they have signed Serbian striker Luka Jovic from Frankfurt and have been heavily linked with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. There will be a huge overhaul this year at the Bernabeu, but the same does not apply to Spurs. 

They simply do not have the funds to bring in marquee signings like Liverpool have done, and Madrid certainly will do this summer. So what else can they do to maintain thier success? 

Splashing out on huge names has never been Tottenham’s style won’t be for the foreseeable future as they are £600m in debt as a result of their new stadium. 

They are renowned for nursing talent and recruiting smartly, however without a transfer in over 18 months the squad is looking frail. 

The only option left for them is to cash-in on their prize assets who have plateaued in recent seasons. The futures of Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen and Danny Rose hang in the balance, as in order to bring in fresh talent they will need to generate the funds for it. 

The team needs rejuvenating and a makeover. Without the Champions League romance, this season would have been remembered for inconsistency as at times they have looked flat. 

If Spurs are going to build on their success in recent seasons and transform it into a normality rather than a over achievement then they are going to have to break with the past. Because another season of transfer inactivity and reliance on individuals will most likely end in apprehension instead of exhilaration.