IN THE DUMPS
PREMIER LEAGUE Hughes: Spurs have blown best chance for title
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MARK HUGHES believes Tottenham may have blown their best chance of winning the Premier League.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have finished second and third in the last two seasons.
But they are currently in sixth place, 18 points adrift of leaders Manchester City after picking up just two points from their last four league games.
Stoke go to Wembley today looking to increase that slump and Hughes reckons Spurs’ best opportunity to be crowned champions might have gone.
“Arguably, in the last two years, a lot of people felt they were the best team, even though they haven’t won the Premier League title,” said the Stoke boss.
“They have missed out twice, and it might be beyond them, clearly, because of the lead Man City have and the level they’re playing at.
“Teams above have recruited well, so there is a danger that they may have missed their opportunity.
Habit
“But they’re still a very young team and, if they keep that together, they will go close again I’m sure.”
As a player, Hughes rejoined Manchester United during Sir Alex Ferguson’s first four years without a trophy before they went on to dominate the game.
Hughes feels Spurs need to lift a major honour to gain a winning habit.
He said: “They probably feel that themselves and to get that trophy helps a team develop because then you understand what it takes to win things.”
United followed their FA Cup win in 1990 with the European Cup Winners’ Cup a year later and the League Cup in 1992 before back-toback league titles.
“Winning an FA Cup or a League Cup can help your league form because, when you are in a key league game, you can revisit those emotions of when you were in finals,” said Hughes.
“That (winning the league) came after winning cups quite regularly. Maybe that’s the next step Spurs need to take.”
Stoke have crashed 4-0 the last three times they have played Spurs, with Harry Kane netting six times, and Hughes doesn’t want a repeat.
“They are the ones who we’ve struggled against the most and that’s been borne out by the margin of their victories,” he said.
“So we need to improve and that’s our hope and intention this weekend.”