Ryan Mason insists managing Spurs is still ‘a privilege and an honour’ after Arne Slot became the latest man to distance himself from the job.
The north Londoners have failed to defy Antonio Conte’s claim that they don’t want to play under pressure or stress. They’ve pulled off just two wins from their nine games since his exit in March, plunging out of the top four. Feyenoord boss Arne Slot also became the latest man linked with the job to distance himself, following Vincent Kompany, Julian Nagelsmann and Roberto De Zerbi.
But, asked whether the Spurs job is still an attractive one, Mason said: “Absolutely yes.
“Look at its history. It’s Tottenham Hotspur. It’s a big club — not just for managers, for staff members, players, anyone here.
“You have to feel the privilege and honour to represent this badge. Anyone who doesn’t shouldn’t be here. It’s really as simple as that.”
Slot, who has clinched the Dutch title with Feyenoord this season, has extended his contract with the club. He said on Friday: “If we go to England I’m hoping it will be into the Champions League.”
He follows Kompany in committing his future to his club while Nagelsmann has decided to remain a free agent and another Spurs candidate, De Zerbi, is poised to lead Brighton into next season’s Europa League.
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Mason has once again insisted he would love to manage the club where he came through as a midfielder from the academy.
Chairman Daniel Levy is hunting his fifth permanent head coach in the last four years. Mason believes consistency is needed for the players to have one message and one set of values going into next season.
Speaking ahead of Spurs’ final game of the season, away to Leeds, Mason added: “My view is quite clear.
“We’ve probably had two or three different styles of football in the last two or three years and I don't think that is good for any squad of players or for fans.
“It is hard to become stable and when you lose people, lose coaches, lose players, lose members of staff, the impact is huge if you keep going from different things.
“Going forward it really is important and we see it in the Premier League, we see it across the leagues, I want people to know who Tottenham are, know what a Tottenham team looks like and certainly know what a Tottenham player looks like.”
Spurs have not won away from home in the Premier League since their 1-0 win at Fulham in January. In total they are winless in their last nine on the road, losing seven and drawing two.
Mason went on: “We need to be clinical when our chances come.
“Obviously there will be loads of conversations in the summer about going forward. There is a lot of people here who really care and want the club to get back to where we hope to be.”
