Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp has said that Spurs must address their inconsistency if they are to improve in the race for a top four finish this season. The Lilywhites host West Ham in a crucial battle for the top four, knowing they could leapfrog the Hammers and Manchester United into fifth with a win.
It could prove a crucial victory if they manage it, given the side’s inconsistency under Antonio Conte this season. Spurs managed a thrashing over the likes of Leeds and Everton amidst disappointing defeats to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup and Manchester United in the league.
However, the Italian head coach is confident of his side reaching a finish in the top four come the end of the season. Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of West Ham, he said: “In this moment now I have great confidence, my feeling is good because I'm seeing great improvement.
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"We are working very hard in these five months [that he's been in charge] but now I'm starting to see great improvement of my team in many aspects: not only on the pitch but also outside, with the mentality.
"I think we're preparing to have another step and it will be very important to finish the season in the best possible way to continue to give us the confidence and to continue to believe in the work we're doing."
His Tottenham side are still within a shout of a Champions League finish this season. Following West Ham, Liverpool and Arsenal are two fixtures remaining where those of a Spurs persuasion may see the game as a crunch match.
However, with a number of games left against sides below them in the league, there may be concern over whether the team’s inconsistency will come back to haunt them. Former midfielder Redknapp believes that they need to sort out that inconsistency sooner rather than later, with it making Conte “angry”.
Speaking on Sky Sports ahead of the game, he said: “ Inconsistency would drive me mad, and I bet it is driving Antonio Conte mad too. You look at the stats and you think the Spurs fans today must be thinking we won the last one, so we are going to lose today.
“But, they have got to change it sooner or later, and there is two ways to look at it. You might say is that once you get lost, can you turn it around and get a positive result. They will look at this game, West Ham had a monumental result in midweek and that could play into Spurs’ hands.”
