Tottenham don't have a Wembley problem, but their opponents may feel they have an advantage

Two losses from two Champions League games are already leading to articles about Tottenham having a ‘Wembley problem’.

Following Tottenham’s defeat to Bayer Leverkusen at Wembley, there is inevitably the suggestion that the club has a ‘problem’ when it comes to playing their Champions League games at the national stadium.

So far it has been played two, lost two as Monaco have also left London with all three points in the Champions League.

Of course, playing away from their natural home ground is likely to be something of a disadvantage. The surroundings aren’t the same for a home game – even if there are more people there – while the attraction of playing at an iconic venue for some opponents, who probably won’t get the opportunity to do so again. They will want their outing at Wembley to be a memorable one, and come away with a victory.

Bayer Leverkusen's Kevin Kampl scores their first goal Bayer Leverkusen’s Kevin Kampl scores their first goal

Aside from that, a lot of Tottenham’s defeat to Bayer Leverkusen was symptomatic of their recent woes. It is now six games on the bounce in competitive fixtures without a win, where the side has struggled in the final third. That’s not something that has just happened in their two Champions League outings at Wembley, it’s been happening away from the field. They’ve not all of a sudden found it difficult in the final third because there’s a huge arch hanging over them.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino before the match

It should also be noted that it’s the club’s first season in the Champions League since the 2010/11 season. Though they may have spent several years prior to this term in the Europa League, it’s evidently a step up. It’s a different challenge, and Mauricio Pochettino isn’t rotating his squad as much for the midweek European games, and more of his frontline players are featuring in more games.

So, it’s not a ‘Wembley problem’, Spurs have one or two other issues. Opposition players may like the fact they are playing at Wembley given the history of the name, and want to impress on their rare appearance at the stadium having been given the opportunity. They may raise their game for such a fixture. The simple thing for Spurs to do is to try and raise their own too.

Tottenham's Dele Alli Tottenham’s Dele Alli