Jermain Defoe sends blunt Tottenham warning as club continue to struggle
Tottenham Hotspur’s battle to avoid an unthinkable relegation has sparked serious concern, with Jermain Defoe now fearing the worst if results do not quickly improve.
Unfortunately for Tottenham Hotspur, relegation is now a very real prospect with nine games left to play in the Premier League.
Spurs find themselves in 16th place in the table, and their 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace on Thursday night saw their four-point lead over 18th-placed West Ham United cut to just a single point.
It is now crucial for Tottenham to start picking up wins, especially with their relegation rivals showing far better form and fighting spirit.
Defoe fears relegation for Tottenham
Former Spurs forward Jermain Defoe has now admitted relegation would be catastrophic for Tottenham.
Speaking to SunSport, Defoe explained how damaging relegation would be for a club of Tottenham’s stature before outlining the different pressures players face when battling at the wrong end of the table.
“It would be catastrophic, to be fair, if the club got relegated. “A massive club like Tottenham – you look at the infrastructure and everything that comes about.
“I have been in both situations. Of course, the pressure of trying to win the league or finish in the top four is a lot of pressure.
“But I do feel like it is maybe a different type of pressure [at the bottom] when you have maybe not experienced something like this before. It is going to be tough.”
Defoe was also asked whether the current Spurs squad have the hunger and fight required for a relegation battle, and he insisted the players must find it quickly if results do not improve.
“The players have got that. If they did not have that, they would not have achieved what they have in terms of being young kids and growing up to play at this level.
“You need a little bit of fight about you – and if you have not got it, you are going to have to find it because it is going to be difficult.
“The reality is you are in a relegation fight. If you do not win football matches, and teams in and around you start winning, then you are in trouble.”
Champions League form offers contrast to Premier League struggles
Spurs might be struggling badly for form in the Premier League, but in Europe they have produced far stronger performances.
They finished fourth in the league phase and will travel to Atletico Madrid next week for the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Defoe also highlighted the stark contrast between Tottenham’s European campaign and their domestic struggles, while pointing to injuries as a major factor behind their difficult season.
“It is like one extreme to another. The Champions League is obviously so big for the football club. But at the same time, I would love to stand here and say Tottenham are not in a relegation fight – but they are.
“The club has not experienced this before. These players have probably never experienced this before. There are some top players there.
“All the injuries they have had this season… it is key to get some of those back from now to the end of the season. Hopefully, they can help this team win games.
“But it is going to be difficult. When I look at the West Ham performances, they have improved so much under Nuno.
“They have got a little bit of fight, a little bit of spirit and momentum. Leeds are the same, Forest are the same.”
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