It looks increasingly unlikely that Tottenham will challenge for the Premier League title this season and so they may have to prioritise other competitions.
It is going to be tough for any side to stop Manchester City from running away with the Premier League title this season.
And yet Tottenham Hotspur must be disappointed that their title challenge looks to be over by November.
Spurs trail City by 13 points after Tuesday night’s matches and have played a game more than Pep Guardiola’s league leaders, having lost 2-1 at Leicester City.
After third- and second-placed finishes in the last two seasons, it is important that Tottenham continue to show signs of progress to keep their star men happy.
Harry Kane may have recently told Bild that he hopes to spend the rest of his career at the London club, but that would be tested by a campaign in which Spurs went backwards.
Similarly, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli would surely have suitors ready to pounce at the slightest sign of Tottenham’s decline.
And so it is crucial that Mauricio Pochettino’s men attack the Champions League and the FA Cup if a league title push is beyond them.
Of course, Spurs would have to retain a top-four place, too, in order to ensure they play in Europe’s top competition again next season, but they know too well from rival fans at Arsenal that focusing solely on that achievement does not feel particularly ambitious.
While Tottenham also wait to end a trophy drought that stretches back to 2008, the FA Cup is also especially important.
Meanwhile, a run to the last eight or possibly even the last four of the Champions League might be enough to keep Kane, Eriksen, Alli and co content.
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