Another chance at silverware has ebbed away leaving Tottenham fans dreading the thought of how the season is likely to pan out.
Their chances of lifting the Champions League trophy in June may not have been favourable in the eyes of many but neither was their surge to the final in 2019.
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Conte watched on as his side bowed out of the Champions League on Wednesday
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Spurs came close to winning the big one in 2019
Wednesday night’s limp exit at the hands of AC Milan was confirmed that Spurs will frustratingly end another season without a trophy.
To make matters worse, it has culminated with the astounding revival of bitter rivals Arsenal who have regained the tag of top dog’s in north London.
Spurs have not won a trophy since their League Cup success over Chelsea in 2008 and despite making forward strides, their trophy cabinet remains untouched.
Their Champions League final appearance boosted the club’s profile on the grandest stage but next on the list was to win their first trophy in more than two decades.
The wait continues for the ever-elusive trophy but for Spurs’ top-four rivals it has been business as usual.
Despite Spurs having finished above bitter rivals Arsenal in each of the last six seasons, the Gunners have picked up four FA Cup’s since 2008 and are in pole position to lift the Premier League title this season.
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Arsenal have won the FA Cup four times since Spurs’ last trophy
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Manchester United have seen their dominance dwindle in the past ten years but that has not stopped them from picking up silverware on their way back to resembling a club from their past glories.
In Sir Alex Ferguson’s final years at the helm, United won the Champions League, Four Premier League titles, two League Cup’s and the FIFA Club World Cup.
In the barren years that followed, the Red Devils lifted the FA Cup, the League Cup twice more and the Europa League, taking their trophy haul to 12 since Spurs’ last triumph.
London rivals Chelsea have been at the top of their game since losing out in the League Cup final to Tottenham in 2008.
Chelsea won a second Champions League trophy in 2021
The Blues have racked up 14 trophies including two Champions League and two Europa League successes.
Add to that three Premier League titles, Four FA Cup’s, one League Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.
Liverpool denied Spurs the holy grail of a Champions League win in 2019 which was the catalyst to their Premier League title win a year later.
Since 2008 and in addition to their successes of 2019 and 2020, Liverpool have clocked up two League Cup victories, the FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
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Liverpool were crowned European champions in 2019 at Spurs’ expense
Manchester City’s 14 trophies has aligned with their huge investment from Abu Dhabi.
City were taken over in 2008 and have since made themselves one of European football’s biggest names.
Their trophy haul includes six Premier League title’s, two FA Cup’s and six League Cup’s.
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Man City have won the Premier league title six times since 2008
Since Spurs’ last trophy, Portsmouth, Wigan and Leicester have all won the FA Cup with the Foxes also going one better by landing the Premier League title in 2016, in a title race that saw Spurs fall away in the final stages.
Swansea and Birmingham have also both won the League Cup in that time.
Leicester have come out of nowhere to win the Premier League and FA Cup in recent times
In some ways, last week’s FA Cup defeat at Sheffield United will have hurt Tottenham fans more than the Champions League exit.
The FA Cup presented them with their best opportunity to break the seemingly never-ending cycle but the nature of the defeat at Bramall Lane has raised further questions about where the club’s priorities lie.
For now, Tottenham will have to soak up the criticism thrown their way without derailing their top four bid.