Manchester United legend Gary Neville has launched a scathing attack on Tottenham Hotspur's players, insisting they 'should be ashamed of themselves' after a 'pathetic' season that saw the north London club narrowly avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Narrow Escape for Spurs
Roberto De Zerbi's side secured their top-flight status with a 1-0 victory over Everton on the final day of the campaign. The win was enough to lift them to 17th place, two points clear of relegated West Ham United. It was Tottenham's first home win since December, highlighting a woeful run of form throughout the season.
This marks the second consecutive year that Tottenham—one of the wealthiest clubs in world football—have finished 17th in the Premier League. The club's recent struggles have drawn sharp criticism from pundits and fans alike.
Neville's Verdict
Speaking on Sky Sports, Gary Neville did not hold back. 'Is it too far to say that they've been pathetic? That they should be ashamed of themselves? Probably not,' he said. 'This is Tottenham Hotspur. I know sometimes I get mocked for saying this is Manchester United, but this is a football club steeped in incredible traditions.'
Neville acknowledged Tottenham's Europa League triumph last season but stressed that the club has been underachieving for years. 'They've been underachievers and underperforming for a long time. This is another level of underachievement and hitting new lows. The last two years in the Premier League,' he added.
Van de Ven's Admission
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven appeared to agree with Neville's assessment. Speaking to the BBC after the match, he said: 'It is unacceptable that the last game we played this season we play for relegation. This club has some unbelievable players. It was embarrassing to let it come to the final day but we did it and that is what is important.'
De Zerbi's Assessment
Manager Roberto De Zerbi, who took over on March 31 and secured three of Tottenham's ten league wins this season, acknowledged the need for significant improvement. He suggested that only a handful of his current squad are good enough to remain at the club.
'We don't have to change too many players. We have 10/11/12 players good enough to stay, both as players and people,' De Zerbi said. 'Then we have to complete the squad with first level of players because we suffered too much. The players they suffer too much. We are Tottenham and we can't suffer like this until the last second and last game and I will be stronger. My target was staying up, and my target is to start the pre-season with a team I have in my dream.'
He added: 'We have to learn from our mistakes we have done this season. Now we are happy as we stayed up — stupid people forget the past. Smart people can't forget the past and we have to improve from our mistakes and we have to look forward to start being a team from this night. We have no time to go on holiday.'
Tottenham's dramatic escape from relegation has sparked intense debate about the club's direction, with many questioning whether the current squad has the mentality to compete at the highest level.
