What Tottenham must do this summer to avoid another relegation battle | OneFootball

A summer of soul-searching is in store as the likes of chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange must answer for a disaster season

It may have gone right down to the wire, but Tottenham will be playing Premier League football next season.

A tumultuous season has a triumphant end, yet it was quickly apparent to everyone inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that this was to be the start rather than the end of the club’s summer of soul-searching.

While many supporters were relieved, others turned to protest, unfurling banners against the club’s board.

This season, and the mistakes that led Spurs to this point, will not be forgotten amid the echoes of “glory, glory Tottenham Hotspur”, which perhaps a touch ironically boomed out over the speakers as soon as the full-time whistle blew.

Spurs’ 1-0 win at home to Everton, their first home league win since December, was just enough to save themselves from the embarrassment of relegation to the second division for the first time in 49 years.

Roberto De Zerbi can rebuild Spurs

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Roberto De Zerbi and Micky van de Ven were clear after the game. The situation Spurs found themselves in on the final day was unacceptable, and attention now turns sharply towards ensuring lessons are learned.

That responsibility, for now, lies with sporting director Johan Lange. Spurs’ recruitment has been a major reason behind their struggles over the last two seasons, and it is imperative that he takes accountability, should he be given the chance. Fellow sporting director Sebastian Kehl is of interest as the club look to finally replace Fabio Paratici, who departed during the season.

Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham spoke last summer, following Daniel Levy’s ousting, of a need to have clear communication with the fans. Then in January, in an open letter to supporters, he underlined the importance of the club’s connection with the supporters and wrote of a need to improve that bond in the future.

So, it was a surprise that neither Venkatesham nor Lange wrote in the club’s matchday programme ahead of the Everton game, passing up the opportunity to explain, apologise or answer for the myriad of supporter concerns.

Vinai Venkatesham and Vivien Lewis on Sunday

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Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange

PA

More than that, though, Lange and Venkatesham, along with the Lewis family, must become more public-facing, more open to criticism, and, importantly, more open to change.

In De Zerbi, they have a manager with the character and ambition to completely remodel this club. It is important that they listen to him, as the club have failed to do so with so many managers previously.

The warning signs were there long before De Zerbi took the reins. This has been a slow and irresponsible demise rather than a rapid descent into trouble.

A disjointed squad, lacking leaders, needs to be overhauled in the summer. It felt telling which players De Zerbi failed to name when asked who had helped Spurs over the line.

Cristian Romero, in attendance against Everton but only after a drawn-out saga over his whereabouts, is chief among those whose future at the club is in doubt.

The Argentine has time and again failed in his responsibilities as a captain. The soap opera around the 28-year-old only added fuel to the fire as Spurs threatened to implode this season.

Joao Palhinha is the sort of character that De Zerbi wants to build around, and the Spurs boss reiterated that he would 100 per cent want to make the Portuguese midfielder’s loan move permanent this summer.

Marcos Senesi is of interest on a free transfer

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All is not lost. Spurs have a core of young, hungry players who De Zerbi hopes will be stronger for their experiences this season, while James Maddison, Mohamed Kudus and Dominic Solanke will all expect to play more minutes next term after injury-hit campaigns this year. Dejan Kulusevski’s injury hell will surely end.

There is transfer interest in defensive pair Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, both potentially shrewd free signings who will bring experience to the squad.

Keeping Spurs in the top flight may be De Zerbi’s greatest managerial achievement to date, but he will know the hard work starts now.

The Italian has been holding back over the last seven weeks, determined to keep his focus on the relegation battle.

Now, though, the gloves are off. Some hard questions need answering ahead of next season, and with the security of a five-year deal and safety secured, De Zerbi will have no qualms about letting his feelings be heard.