Jamie Redknapp has said it would be ‘amazing’ if Tottenham Hotspur do not win a trophy this season, describing manager Antonio Conte as a ‘serial winner’.
Spurs last won a trophy in 2008 under the stewardship of Juande Ramos. They beat Chelsea 2-1 in the League Cup Final. Eight months later, the club sacked the Spanish boss.
They have come close to winning a trophy on numerous times since then. However, they have fallen short. In 2015, they again reached the final of the League Cup under Mauricio Pochettino, with Chelsea also the opponents on that occasion. This time, the Blues were victorious, winning 2-0.
Pochettino then guided Spurs to the final of the Champions League in 2019. They also lost that game 2-0 to Jurgen Klopp‘s Liverpool.
And finally, Spurs once more contested the final of the League Cup in 2021. Jose Mourinho got them to the showpiece event, where they would take on Manchester City. However, the Portuguese boss was sacked on the week of the final.
Ryan Mason took charge of the team on an interim basis, and the side subsequently lost 2-0 to City.
Can Spurs win a trophy under Conte?
After a difficult period of time for Spurs, there is now optimism at White Hart Lane that the club can achieve big things.
After parting company with Nuno Espirito Santo last November, the club quickly swooped to bring in Antonio Conte. A Premier League and Serie A winner, the Italian is unquestionably one of the best managers in world football.
When Conte took over Spurs, they were ninth in the Premier League table. However, after a strong second half of the season, they ended the campaign in fourth. Spurs won eight of their last 11 games.
Daniel Levy and ENIC have backed their manager this summer with six new signings. They include the additions of Richarlison from Everton, Yves Bissouma from Brighton and Clement Lenglet from Barcelona, with the latter of those deals on loan.
In addition, they have added experience in the form of former Inter Milan midfielder Ivan Perisic, and youth in defender Djed Spence from Middlesbrough. Fraser Forster has also arrived from Southampton as the new backup goalkeeper.
Jamie Redknapp assesses Spurs trophy changes
Speaking to Sporf as part of a Sky Sports media day on Thursday, ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp gave his assessment of whether his old club can end their trophy drought this term, and talked up the abilities of Antonio Conte.
He explained: “I think they have got to win a trophy this year. They’ve backed the manager, and rightly so, because they’ve got an incredible manager. So it feels like the right thing to do.
“Perisic is going to be a really good signing for them as a left wing-back. They need that player that has got that experience. I know he’s 33, 34 in February. So he’s not young.
“Richarlison is a good signing. An unusual signing, I would say, to some extent, as a Tottenham signing, because Tottenham try to normally get the next sort of superstar. But that is one that they feel will certainly take the burden off Harry Kane.
“And obviously then Bissouma, who’s a really good player. I like him. He’s tremendously talented. I think as long as he sticks to doing the basics, keeps it simple, doesn’t try to overcomplicate it, he’ll be fine. Especially with Conte as a midfield player himself, I’m sure he’ll get the best out of him. He’s got great energy, he’s fit, he’s strong. He can really play.
“So I do look at Tottenham, and if they don’t win a trophy with this squad this year, for someone like Conte, who is a serial winner, I think it would be amazing for them not at least to see an FA Cup at White Hart Lane this year.”
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