Communicate to these behind the scenes and they’ll clarify accidents have been essentially the most pertinent issue behind Tottenham’s predicament.
Son Heung-min, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Richarlison and Guglielmo Vicario amongst many others have spent prolonged spells on the sidelines this season – lots of them with muscular points.
James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall and Kulusevski had been all unavailable in Bilbao. Son began on the bench as a result of he was deemed unfit having solely just lately returned from damage.
Certainly, a number of sources have advised BBC Sport that the membership’s crippling damage file has been on the centre of some friction between members of the teaching crew and medical and energy and conditioning workers over the course of the season.
“It has been the blame sport,” one well-placed supply stated.
In keeping with sources, Richarlison’s injury-disrupted marketing campaign has proved a bone of rivalry, notably within the aftermath of the 4-0 Carabao Cup defeat by Liverpool in February when, having solely just lately returned from respective hamstring and groin accidents, the Brazil worldwide suffered a subsequent calf damage.
There have been different examples this season the place Postecoglou’s crew and the medical and health division have not seen eye-to-eye.
Has Postecoglou pushed gamers too onerous? Or are the energy and conditioning and medical departments at fault? The solutions will differ relying on who you communicate to.
Curiously, it’s understood there have been comparable strains throughout Postecoglou’s reign at Celtic, with medical workers and the supervisor not at all times aligned.
It is pertinent so as to add that these tensions at Tottenham have eased in latest weeks because the membership’s strolling wounded returned to availability, whereas Postecoglou has sought to issue in additional days off for his gamers in latest months – their elimination from the Carabao Cup and FA Cup permitting him further leeway.
However, the sheer variety of muscular accidents the membership have suffered this season signifies a problem that requires rectifying.
As is regular on the finish of the season, Tottenham will evaluation the marketing campaign with a view to creating departmental enhancements forward of the following.
With the incoming arrival of Vinai Venkatesham as new CEO, it is possible that present chief soccer officer Scott Munn’s place will come below scrutiny on the finish of the season.
Tottenham have additionally held talks with former managing director of soccer Fabio Paratici over a return to the membership following his exit in 2023 after an attraction in opposition to a two-and-a-half-year Fifa ban for alleged monetary irregularities whereas at Juventus was rejected by Italy’s highest sports activities court docket.
It’s also honest to imagine the membership’s horrendous damage file can be a part of the evaluation course of.
The upside of the membership’s damage points has been the event of 19-year-olds Bergvall and Archie Grey this season.
Each youngsters had been anticipated to be eased into first-team obligation this season – however the pair have made 88 appearances between them to this point.
Whereas there may be acknowledgement that the expertise can be invaluable to the event of each gamers, there may be additionally an acceptance that the state of affairs has been removed from preferrred for a membership anticipated to be difficult for a top-five spot.
