- Tottenham must change everything
After an impressive start to the season of efficiency, Tottenham gradually collapsed and could never find the thread. The victory obtained in Leeds on Sunday (4-1) proved insufficient to hang a place for the next Conference Europa League.
After the spectacular failures of Jose Mourinho (2019-2021) and Antonio Conte (2021-2022), who were supposed to bring their culture of winning in order to dust off a record that has not included any trophies since 2008, the next season should be that of a new cycle.
Especially if the prolific striker Harry Kane, author of two more goals at Leeds, and with only one year left on his contract, were to end up leaving. Hugo Lloris has already announced he will leave the club this summer and Son Heung-min's future is also uncertain.
The big winner of this day is Aston Villa, winner 2-1 of the other surprise team of this season, Brighton (6th).
Aston Villa's Spanish coach Unai Emery after the match against Brighton, on May 28, 2023 in Birmingham © Geoff Caddick / AFP
Arriving in Birmingham in October, as Aston Villa slipped into the relegation zone, coach Unai Emery, four-time Europa League winners with Sevilla and Villarreal, made a spectacular turnaround that allowed his team to finish in seventh position and get a ticket to the C4. The French Boubacar Kamara and Lucas Digne will therefore be the first participation of the Clarets in a European Cup since 2010-2011.
- Manchester City already focused on their two finals
Before his two finals against Manchester United (FA Cup, next Saturday) and Inter Milan (Champions League, June 10), Pep Guardiola had fielded a B team at Brentford (defeat 1-0), with only two usual starters (Ederson and Walker). The champion finishes with five more points on Arsenal, who end their season in style with a large victory over Wolverhampton (5-0).
Six days before this 100% Mancunian final at Wembley, the Red Devils won against Fulham (2-1) and finished in third place. The first season of Erik ten Hag is generally successful in view of the heavy context. The psychodrama around the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo at the beginning of the season, then the long uncertainty around the choice of the future buyer, constituted a background noise not conducive to the serenity of the players.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, substitute during the match against Brentford, on May 28, 2023 in London © Ben Stansall / AFP
While the announcement of the signing of Mauricio Pochettino is imminent, Chelsea could not do better than a draw against Newcastle (1-1) and finished in a pitiful twelfth place.
Only eighteen months after its takeover by Saudi investors at a time when it was fighting for its maintenance, Newcastle continues its rise to power and will find the Champions League for the first time in 21 years, thanks to its fourth place.
True to the proven recipe so far, the new management has not resorted to announcement effects. But a major recruit is not to be excluded if we believe the words of coach Eddie Howe, who indicated that even if the priority was to find players able to fill needs, he was open to signing big names.
Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino (l) battles with Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse, on May 28, 2023 in Southampton © Adrian DENNIS / AFP
With Chelsea and Tottenham, the other big club that is looking forward to the off-season is Liverpool (5th), capable of the best and worst this season, and who have been jostled again (4-4) on the ground of the last, Southampton.
The other two relegated teams are Leicester, champions of England in 2016 two years after leaving the second division, and Leeds, present in the elite since 2020.
© 2023 AFP