Forget about relegation, Tottenham might not even bounce back up – says ex-Arsenal defender
Former Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre has now issued a stark warning to Tottenham Hotspur as relegation fears continue to grow.
Many Tottenham Hotspur fans will want to believe that their club will just about beat the drop this season, with six games to play.
However, based on recent displays, that seems rather unlikely, as Tottenham currently stand as the worst side in the Premier League since the turn of the year.
Spurs, who held a 12-point lead over West Ham United on matchday 19, have let it slip as they failed to secure a single win in their last 14 league outings – a run that has seen them fall two points behind the Hammers, leaving them in the relegation places.
Tottenham warned by Mikael Silvestre over relegation and Championship return fears
It is now time for Tottenham to show some character under new boss Roberto De Zerbi, who got his Spurs reign off to a losing start at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland, where his side lost 1-0.
De Zerbi is adamant that he will remain Tottenham boss should Spurs get relegated, but many fans would rather their club keep their Premier League status.
Former Premier League defender Mikael Silvestre has now issued a warning to Tottenham about the scale of the challenge they face, suggesting relegation could have lasting consequences.
In comments relayed by the Mirror from an interview with Ladbrokes at the launch of Ladisfaction, he said: “The issue they now have is that they look like they are going down – and I believe they will be relegated. But once they do go down, how difficult is it for that team to jump back in and get promoted again?
“You know, the players who are there now… I do not think they have the mentality to play in the Championship. They have got a huge task on their hands in the summer if they do go down… and that looks more and more likely to be the case.”
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 | ArsenalArsenal | 32 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 62 | 24 | 38 | 70 |
| 2 | Manchester CityManchester City | 31 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 63 | 28 | 35 | 64 |
| 3 | Manchester UnitedManchester United | 32 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 57 | 45 | 12 | 55 |
| 4 | Aston VillaAston Villa | 32 | 16 | 7 | 9 | 43 | 38 | 5 | 55 |
| 5 | LiverpoolLiverpool | 32 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 52 | 42 | 10 | 52 |
| 6 | ChelseaChelsea | 32 | 13 | 9 | 10 | 53 | 41 | 12 | 48 |
| 7 | BrentfordBrentford | 32 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 48 | 44 | 4 | 47 |
| 8 | EvertonEverton | 32 | 13 | 8 | 11 | 39 | 37 | 2 | 47 |
| 9 | BrightonBrighton | 32 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 43 | 37 | 6 | 46 |
| 10 | SunderlandSunderland | 32 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 33 | 36 | -3 | 46 |
| 11 | BournemouthBournemouth | 32 | 10 | 15 | 7 | 48 | 49 | -1 | 45 |
| 12 | FulhamFulham | 32 | 13 | 5 | 14 | 43 | 46 | -3 | 44 |
| 13 | Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace | 31 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 35 | 36 | -1 | 42 |
| 14 | NewcastleNewcastle | 32 | 12 | 6 | 14 | 45 | 47 | -2 | 42 |
| 15 | LeedsLeeds | 32 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 39 | 49 | -10 | 36 |
| 16 | Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest | 32 | 8 | 9 | 15 | 32 | 44 | -12 | 33 |
| 17 | West HamWest Ham | 32 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 40 | 57 | -17 | 32 |
| 18 | TottenhamTottenham | 32 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 40 | 51 | -11 | 30 |
| 19 | BurnleyBurnley | 32 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 33 | 63 | -30 | 20 |
| 20 | WolvesWolves | 32 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 24 | 58 | -34 | 17 |
Spurs face tough Championship test if relegation confirmed
Tottenham currently stand as one of six teams to have stayed the longest in the English top flight without being relegated, having remained in the division for almost half a century.
But when they went down in the 1976-77 season, they responded by earning promotion back to the First Division the following season.
That could well be the case again should the worst happen this term to the Lilywhites, but Silvestre does not expect a similar response should Tottenham become a Championship side next season.
Expanding on the demands of the division and what Spurs would need to cope with, Silvestre added, “You know, in that division, you need to show certain characteristics, you need to fight, you need to win scruffy games; it is not just about being technical.
“And so far this season, we have not seen any of those characteristics, so it is not to say if they went down, they would come straight back up. It is such a tough and demanding division, you know.
“Technical qualities are not enough. Between now and the end of the season, it is not about playing well at all; it is about fighting and grabbing points.”
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