Tottenham Hotspur have made huge strides during these past 12 months.
It wasn’t so long ago that Antonio Conte was ranting like crazy, the team was getting slapped up at St James’ Park, finishing outside of Europe and all whilst playing a style of play nobody liked.
But following Ange Postecoglou’s appointment last summer, Tottenham have returned to Europe, finished fifth in the league and are now playing some of the best football in the country.
After only ten Premier League matches, Spurs were sitting top of the table, flying high and dreaming big.
But then they got hit with a punch that knocked them out cold when they were beaten 4-1 at home by Chelsea in a season-defining encounter.
Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie picked up suspensions, whilst Micky van de Ven and James Maddison suffered long-term injuries.
Darren Bent was speaking to Maddison at a recent charity event and he highlighted those injuries to the player, as he told talkSPORT.
The former striker told the Euro 2024 hopeful that those injuries came at the ‘wrong time’ because they were unbeaten and flying in the league.
Bent also told Maddison that it was because of him and van de Ven that Spurs’ season ‘derailed’ towards missing out on a Champions League spot by two points.
James Maddison and Micky van de Ven’s injuries
“I think injuries came for you lot at the wrong time,” said Bent. “At the start of the season, you lot were flying, you (Maddison) was flying and van de Ven was flying.
“You picked up the injury. Van de Ven got a hamstring injury. You had your most effective players all injured at the same time. That probably derailed you as well. You only missed out on Champions League by two points. You keep the rest of your players fit, then you probably get it.”
Tottenham Hotspur’s squad
Postecoglou needs to seriously bulk up his squad because he has seen how the team reacts when certain players are out of action.
He can’t afford for that to happen next season because they will get punished further. Plus, they are in Europe.
READ MORE: 50 most likely Premier League, EFL and European summer 2024 football transfers
The return of Timo Werner will certainly help, but fans will be hoping for more added quality across the board.
Since Harry Kane left, has he really been replaced? The answer is no.
Plus, sources tell HITC that Tottenham are planning a double transfer raid of Chelsea as they bid to sign Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah.