Ledley King outlines what is not Daniel Levy’s fault at Tottenham and why Arsenal give them hope
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Ledley King believes that Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy “gets a bit of tough criticism at times”. Replacing Lord Alan Sugar as Spurs chairman back in February 2001, the Lilywhites have only managed to win one trophy during Levy’s tenure following their League Cup final success in February 2008.
Helping Tottenham rise from mid-table to become European regulars and reach the final of cup competitions on a handful of occasions, including the Champions League in 2019, the team have been unable to get over the final hurdle and their trophy drought currently stands at 15 years. Having fallen away from the top four and with fans desperate to see more investment in the team to help them get back up to their previous heights of only a few years ago, Levy has come in for plenty of criticism from the fanbase and many are now keen to see a change at the top of the club.
Amid the condemnation coming Levy’s way, King, speaking on Kammy and Ben’s Proper Football Podcast, has opened up on the steps Tottenham have made under the chairman and claimed that Spurs’ bad luck in finals cannot be pinned on him.
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“It’s important for me to say that I think he gets a bit of tough criticism at times,” said the Tottenham legend. “When I first joined the club, we were a mid-table team. You know, over the years we’ve kind of bridged that gap.
“We’ve kind of tried to be a team that’s trying to compete and win things. We’ve come close, you know, we haven’t been able to do it, but that’s not the chairman’s fault that we’ve lost the finals or why we haven’t won a trophy.
“I think if you look at the spending, we are probably up there in the top four or five. So, probably the recruitment has maybe been a bit of an issue in terms of the players that we’ve brought in over the last few years not…probably not hitting the ground.”
When asked if Levy is not responsible for the deals that the club get over the line and ultimately don’t work out, King added: “Yeah, people have a job I suppose to bring in certain players and I don’t think it’s a talent issue with the players. But, if it doesn’t work and they don’t perform then that’s tough.
“And, you know, you’re again then searching to kind of bridge that gap again where you’re trying to be a team that’s from the top four or five to a team that’s competing. And until we kind of get that right in terms of bringing in the next phase of players to help us to do that, then it’s going to be tough. So that’s where we are at the moment.”
Remaining a one-club man throughout his career after coming through the Tottenham system and never leaving the club, Spurs fans will be hoping that Harry Kane follows in King’s footsteps and stays with the Lilywhites for the rest of his career. A major talking point at present amid links with Manchester United and Tottenham’s struggles to win trophies, the 42-year-old feels that players don’t necessarily have to leave clubs in order to win silverware.
“No, I’ve never been one who’s kind of really believed in that, because there’s always a lot of pressure from the outside, telling you what you have to do,” he explained. “Harry is scoring goals. He’s probably going to break the Premier League record at the club. He’s already one of the best strikers in the world.
“For me, I always said it felt more to win one or two at my club than to go elsewhere and win three or four. Obviously, everyone is different. I understand there’s going to be more pressure on Harry. That’s a different expectation, different pressure to leave. But, I don’t buy the kind of feeling that you have to leave.
“I think that everyone’s career is their career. And, however they feel about it, there’s no doubt that Harry has got the maximum out of his career as an individual. And I always think when you start the game as a young kid, your aim is to get the maximum out of your career and Harry’s done that.
“So, regardless of whatever happens, he can always look in the mirror when his career is done. No one can say that you didn’t win anything. It’s not an individual game. Has he maximized his career? Has he been the best in his position? He’s done that.”
A major component of the Tottenham team after netting 29 goals in all competitions this term, King believes that Tottenham’s main man will still be at the club next season.
“Of course, it’s always important to hang on to your best players and…Harry’s been an integral part of the team, the football club for years,” said the former England international. “But, we know the game. You know, it’s very difficult.
“He’s got one year left. Of course we want to hang on to him. I believe that he’ll still be there next season. And can we bring in the right people around him to make him think that he still is in the right place for him and his career to still get the best out of himself.”
King was also quizzed on Antonio Conte’s outburst following the 3-3 draw at Southampton where Tottenham surrendered a 3-1 lead in the closing stages. Pulling no punches in his assessment of the team and the club, it ultimately resulted in his exit as both parties agreed to part ways just over a week later.
“He did. And I think it’s difficult,” said King when it was put to him that Conte pointed the finger at the chairman. “I don’t know what his remit was at the beginning of the season. I’m guessing it wouldn’t have been to win the league. We know how tough that is.
“But, to be fair to the manager, he had a tough year…lost a couple of close friends. He had his own health issues. So, I just think he’d had a very, very tough year. A lot of frustrations with the inconsistency of the team.
“But, the team was where they probably deserved to be at that point, which was still in and around the top four. But, I’m guessing it would have been to keep building, to build on last season, which would have been frustrating because if you look at the performances last season and this season, you wouldn’t say that we’ve built on that.
“And maybe that’s what frustrated him, that we haven’t kind of closed the gap even more, and I’m sure that would have been the aim, to stay within the top four, close the gap and then, what it would be for next season, bringing in a few new faces and kind of reassess again.”
Asked further about Conte’s eye-opening press conference, King went on to hail Ryan Mason and he even admitted that Arsenal’s strong season gives Spurs plenty of hope that there will be a big change in N17 next campaign after such a frustrating year.
“It was difficult. I think, you know, at that point, there was a lot of…you could see he was frustrated, a lot of emotion,” he added. “And as I say, I think the course of the season had taken its toll on him and that’s why we’ve got the outburst.
“But, the club acted on it and Ryan’s [Mason] in at the moment. He’s a good young coach. I actually worked with Ryan when I was coaching with Jose [Mourinho] and Jose left the club. I stayed on and finished the season off with Ryan. He’s a talented young coach. I know the players were impressed with him in his first stint and I’m sure they are now. So, it’s just really about finishing the season off as well as we can.
“You know, we’re not the only ones who’ve had a tough year. Liverpool have found it tough. Chelsea have obviously found it tough. And you really only have to look at our north London neighbours to see how, from one season to the next, it can change and that gives us hope, I suppose.”
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