Alan Shearer believes that both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United need a shift in priorities when it comes to cup competitions.
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle are two clubs with comparable short-term goals. Both managed to break into the Premier League’s top four over the last few seasons and each club will be looking to make that the norm, rather than the exception.
Currently separated by two points in the Premier League table, in 10th and 8th respectively, neither are where they would like to be. In spite of the whole table being tight on points, each club will need to see improvement in their form if they are to achieve their Champions League aspirations.
However, Alan Shearer believes Tottenham and Newcastle should switch their focus away from the Premier League in order to address an equally prominent issue.
While appearing on ‘The Rest is Football’ podcast, Alan Shearer answered a question sent in which asked why Tottenham and Newcastle are not focusing on cup competitions.
In response, Shearer said: “No I agree, totally agree. I do find it frustrating at times.
“I understand it to a certain degree from the manager’s point of view, because he’s got to keep all of his squad happy and finish higher in the league, which is then more beneficial to the chairman and the football club, which is a huge bonus as well.
“So I understand all those things, but I’m of the same opinion of that, particularly teams like Tottenham and Newcastle, who could really do with a trophy.”
In order to win any cup tournament, you usually have to get by at least some of the best teams. The ability to achieve that comes from developing the squad continuously, regardless of who or what the fixture is.
It’s often mentioned that Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho used the League Cup as a means to establish a winning mentality in their teams. However, you do not establish that mentality through concessions, or accepting league losses in favour of cups.
It is a long process to build a squad which can compete across four heavily scheduled competitions, but Tottenham are more likely to reach that by continuing to improve, rather than conceding the Premier League as already lost.
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