HDB expands national footprint with 'Acacia' branch in New Cairo    Lavrov warns against anti-Russia alliances in Asia during North Korea visit    Germany faces recruitment hurdles in push to rearm, eyes conscription    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt, China central banks sign pacts to boost yuan use, payment systems    S. Korea's c. bank holds base rate at 2.50%    Egypt, China sign 3 MoUs to expand digital payments, local currency use    Egypt's annual core CPI inflation eases to 11.4% in June: CBE    Egypt's EDA, Haleon discuss local market support    Environment ministry signs agreement to strengthen marine protection, promote ecotourism    Egypt, WHO discuss expanding health cooperation, development initiatives    Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Egypt for high-level talks    Gaza under siege, fire: Resistance intensifies amid deepening humanitarian collapse    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    Egypt, Pakistan boost healthcare ties – Cabinet    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt condemns deadly terrorist attack in Niger        Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Tottenham left looking second best in title chase
Published in Ahram Online on 26 - 04 - 2016

For all Mauricio Pochettino's fighting talk about remaining in the Premier League title chase, it was hard not to glimpse a white flag over White Hart Lane after Tottenham Hotspurs' lacklustre draw with West Bromwich Albion on Monday.
Instead of piling pressure on leaders Leicester City, who are now seven points ahead with three games remaining, Spurs have now given their rivals firm sight of a title which would be secured by victory at Manchester United on Sunday.
This is how many experts predicted the title race would play out. For weeks the focus has been on whether Claudio Ranieri's side would blink in the spotlight. But while they dazzled with a compelling 4-0 win over Swansea on Sunday, one day later Spurs appeared blinded by the expectation of those who assumed they would win their remaining games with their customary panache.
Amid the hype over Leicester's first title in their 132-year history, it is easy to forget that Spurs last finished on top in 1961. And when they did so, the team was founded on the steely focus of Danny Blanchflower and uncompromising strength of Dave Mackay.
The Tottenham side who took the field on Monday was much less experienced, with players like Dele Alli and Eric Dier in their first full season. Alli, particularly, looked like the occasion got to him on Monday and appeared to punch Claudio Yacob in a first-half incident that was captured by TV cameras.
Although referee Mike Jones missed the incident, Alli could still face retrospective action in the form of a misconduct charge and a three-match ban that would rule him out of Spurs' final games.
The midfielder has been one of the season's revelations, and is tipped to play a major role for England in the European Championships. But Alli failed to exert much authority on Monday when Spurs struggled to break down a resilient Albion side with little to play for.
Pocchetino suggested Alli has already become a target for the opposition. "Sometimes the opponents find him and try to provoke, they know he has a strong character and may react."
Despite Monday's result, the Argentine refused to admit that the title race was over although he was full of praise for their title rivals. "Leicester deserve to be in their position - fully deserve it - it will be a fantastic season if in the end they win the title, but it is impossible to compare both teams.
"We need to use this experience for the next few seasons - we are very young. We are very proud of our season. The gap is seven points and we have three games to play. But we need to believe."
But it will not get easier for Tottenham, who next travel to Chelsea, where they have not won since 1990.
(For more sportsnews andupdates, followAhramOnlineSportson Twitter at@AO_Sportsand onFacebookatAhramOnlineSports.)
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/204465.aspx


Clic here to read the story from its source.