Tottenham Hotspur risk Premier League relegation this season, warns former champion Joleon Lescott. The north London club occupies 16th place, just one point clear of the drop zone with nine matches remaining.
Disastrous Champions League Exit Looms
Spurs suffered a 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 first leg. They now face an uphill battle to advance, needing a remarkable turnaround in the return fixture. The loss exposed glaring defensive frailties, with four goals conceded in the first 22 minutes.
Lescott Highlights Confidence Crisis
The ex-Manchester City and England defender, speaking on a recent podcast, painted a bleak picture of Tottenham’s mindset. “Honestly, in terms of form, yeah,” Lescott said. “Because again, speaking about experience, none of their players have experienced this fight.”
He contrasted Spurs’ situation with teams like Nottingham Forest or West Ham, where supporters rally during setbacks due to familiarity with survival scraps. “Spurs fans now are like, ‘Oh, this is nerve-wracking’,” Lescott noted. “And then players are like, ‘Oh, I don’t want that pass. I don’t want to show for the ball there’. But it becomes very edgy potentially.”
Lessons from Personal Relegation
Drawing from his own demotion with Aston Villa in 2016, Lescott described how players “go missing all of a sudden.” Pressure distorts decisions: forwards demand perfect shots, defenders opt for safe wide passes over risky central ones, squandering chances.
“Say a forward where he’s taken a shot when he’s full of confidence, now it needs to be perfect,” he explained. “Now I need to see the whole goal rather than half of the goal.”
Tudor’s Tough Start and Squad Depth
New manager Igor Tudor has lost all four games in charge, including London derbies against Fulham and Crystal Palace. Injuries have disrupted the squad, yet Tottenham’s recent spending suggests sufficient depth for a stronger campaign.
As the relegation specter looms larger, Lescott fears history could repeat unless confidence returns swiftly.
