Tottenham: Porro nails why Spurs have capitulated this season

Pedro Porro has explained why Tottenham have endured a nightmare campaign that could get even worse, and his main reason is hard to dispute.

Any Tottenham A fan who thought the Europa League triumph would be a springboard to bigger and better things was quickly brought back down to earth this season.

Spurs were eliminated from both domestic cup competitions in the first rounds. They are just a point above the Premier League drop zone and heading for a first relegation since 1977.

Results were better in the Champions League, however, and ahead of Tottenham’s round of 16 tie against Atletico Madrid, right-back Porro spoke to the Spanish press about exactly what went wrong in north London this term.

The biggest problem for Tottenham this year – at least in Porro’s mind – has been their staggering injury list.

The fact that some of their best and oldest players (a certain Argentinian) are failing to avoid red cards and suspensions only exacerbates the problem.

Porro said Radio Marca: “It’s difficult, because when you play four competitions in these circumstances… we already had this bad experience last year in the Premier League with so many players injured, and you just can’t compete.

“We have young players coming through strong, and looking at this season, it’s basically the same.

“You’re going to play against Arsenal, City, Liverpool or Chelsea, and you just can’t.”

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The Spurs aren’t alone in carrying a long injury list, but what sets them apart is how many starters are sidelined and for how long.

Looking only at the forward line, in an ideal world Tottenham’s top four strikers would consist of Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus and Dominic Solanke.

Kulusevski and Maddison have not made a single appearance all season, while Solanke has been limited by his own injuries to just 601 league minutes. Kudus has not played since suffering a serious thigh injury in early January.

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Summing up the dire situation Spurs find themselves in, Porro added: “We could field a starting XI made up of injured players who might even be stronger than the eleven playing now, and that’s not out of disrespect to anyone, but that’s basically the reality.

“We have to think and maintain a positive mindset. I told my teammates, it’s difficult to compete like this, but we always have to give 100 percent, even if things are not going well in the Premier League, like last year.

“We will approach this match with the same ambition that we have shown so far in the Champions League.”

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