Tottenham v Everton: Spurs’ Premier League status on final day in their biggest game in recent history Football News

Sunday’s Premier League home match against Everton is Tottenham’s biggest game in recent history.

It’s not just about 11 players on the pitch. This is a club and business with hundreds of employees who are worried about their jobs and their future.

Only one scenario can send Spurs into the Championship on Sunday and that is if Roberto Di Zarbi’s side lose at home to Everton and West Ham beat Leeds at the London Stadium.

Should Tottenham avoid relegation, the home fans will celebrate – but it will be relief rather than euphoria.

Regardless of the result on Sunday, fans will be angry as it has been a disastrous campaign.

A year ago, Spurs were celebrating Europa League glory with over 220,000 fans at the trophy parade. But ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought was not enough for Ange Postecoglou to keep his job after the club slumped to a record 17th season in the Premier League.

The message then was that the club needed to compete on all fronts, not just one. Well, it has been just one front this season with the aim of keeping the club in the top flight on the final day.

It’s clear that Tottenham desperately need a reset – but with the club still in the Premier League, it needs a reset.

It doesn’t make sense that Spurs should be relegated to the Championship. After all, it is the ninth richest club in the world.

So, how did we get here this season?

Wrong managers, poor hiring and a losing culture

Well, this all started in the summer. Postecoglou’s successor, Thomas Frank, was not a good fit for the club. Some players liked him, but others didn’t take to the den.

In the end, he overstayed his welcome, and should have been fired earlier. The West Ham defeat in January was time for him.

Then the injury woes deepened and this season’s crisis proved more disastrous than last campaign.

Losing key players like Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Mohamed Qudus to injury, summer club legend and captain Heung-min Son, was always going to make this season challenging.

Regular losses have also become an expected outcome for the players of this team. Last season, the main focus was on the Europa League, with Spurs becoming the first team in top-flight history to lose 22 games in a 38-game season and not be relegated as the Premier League relegated.

Spurs have continued this season to turn it on in Europe at the expense of their domestic campaign. A top-four finish in the Champions League stage table under Frank didn’t help these players – it created a false confidence because, in truth, the opponents they beat were Europa League-level teams.

What the players have no control over is the decision made at the top.

Frank should have been fired earlier, though the signings weren’t good enough.

The lack of significant business in the January window was worrying. Bringing in Conor Gallagher as a major winter signing amid a crippling injury list and in a position where the club was already well covered was just too bad.

Not replacing Brennan Johnson, who was sold to Crystal Palace for £35m, was a big mistake.

So, the January transfer window will be a major regret if Tottenham fall into the Championship.

Another would be the confusing recruitment of Igor Tudor. The problem with the Croatian was that he came and told the players that they were not good enough. No wonder he only played seven matches.

De Zerby has had the desired effect, and I have no doubt that if he takes over sooner, Spurs will be 12th or 13th.

Spurs’ safety might already have been secured had it not gone their way for some controversial VAR calls lately. In fact, the north London club are yet to win a penalty in the Premier League this season.

However, the relegation is a minor factor in their woes as they head into the final day on the 17th, needing a point to ensure safety.

Maddison’s role in setting the day for Spurs

Spurs will be looking for a hero on Sunday and it will feel set up for Maddison.

He has made a huge impact off the bench in his only two appearances this season and, understandably, fans are asking the question: can he start against Everton?

What I want to believe is that he will not be able to give more than what he has given in the last two games after coming back from a serious knee injury.

If there is nothing to play for Tottenham, we might not see Maddison playing right now.

But in the situation Spurs are in, they desperately need his quality. Not only does he give so much as a player, he is a true leader and presence off the field as well.

He spoke well after Chelsea’s defeat on Tuesday – he’s just gets He was right to be “embarrassed” at the Spurs fightback.

I expect Maddison to start on the bench on Sunday which should be a very exciting day.

It wouldn’t surprise me if both Tottenham and West Ham draw, but I expect the Hammers to take the lead at some point.

And if Tottenham are relegated after a defeat, they have only themselves to blame.

To make it even more painful, their north London rivals Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy on Sunday.

Just four years ago, Spurs beat Arsenal 3-0 to finish fourth under Antonio Conte, but now the two teams could be playing in different divisions next season.