Peter Crouch tells Tottenham what they should change to win a trophy – as he insists Ange Postecoglou’s facet ‘MUST’ finish their 16-year wait this season

Former Tottenham striker Peter Crouch believes that Spurs must end their major-trophy drought this season. 

The north Londoners have been a picture of inconsistency this term and perfectly highlighted their failings on Thursday night when they twice surrendered an advantage to draw 2-2 with Roma in the Europa League. 

Spurs remain the favourites for the competition, while they are in the quarter-final of the League Cup and in their manager Ange Postecoglou, they have a boss who has a track record of winning silverware in his second season at a club. 

Trophies have been harder to come by at Tottenham. Not since 2008 have their fans been able to enjoy the thrill of winning a major honour and Crouch believes that 2025 must be the year when their wait finally comes to an end. 

‘They’re going to need players back,’ he said on TNT Sports. ‘It’s Thursday, Sunday for about five weeks now. 

‘Difficult fixtures, they’ll need the centre halves back but in the lead up to Christmas it’s the same for everyone. It gets ridiculous. When most of Europe is having a break, our league is going full hammer. 

Former Tottenham striker Peter Crouch believes that Spurs need to end their trophy drought this season

Ange Postecoglou has won a trophy in his second season at every previous club he has managed

Spurs are the favourites for the Europa League and they face Manchester United in the League Cup quarter-final

‘That’s great for us as viewers but for the players it’s hard to manage – when you look at some of those fixtures, they need to win something this year. 

‘The Europa League is big for them but the League Cup as well, against Manchester United, that’s a big game for Tottenham especially after the manager put himself under pressure with some of his comments. 

‘I still think they can definitely win something. They’ve got the manager and players to do it. It’s just a mentality thing to get it over the line now.’

Postecoglou has not shied away from his second-season trophy-winning record. Indeed, in September, following his side’s 1-0 north London derby defeat to Arsenal he said: ‘I’ll correct myself – I don’t usually win things, I always win things in my second year. Nothing’s changed.’ 

He went on to insist that his comments did not add extra pressure to his players, who now find themselves outside of the Europa League automatic qualification places. While, in the Premier League they are sixth and three points adrift of the Champions League spots. 

Spurs’ last league outing – a 4-0 thrashing of defending champions Manchester City at the Etihad – proved they are capable of beating anyone on their day. But their inconsistency will no doubt concern Postecoglou that his stunning record will reach its end in north London. Just as it did with serial winners Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. 

Regardless, the Australian insisted that his team will not alter their approach. 

‘Why can’t it just be entertaining? Isn’t it why we all come?’ he said after their draw on Thursday night. ‘Would you really prefer us to sketch out a couple of 0-0 draws and a 1-0 win and we get through? I don’t know.

‘I would much rather we’re exciting to watch and maybe it is edge-of-the-seat-stuff and sometimes we don’t get the reward, like we could have tonight, but no, if you want those kind of games, there are plenty in world football you can watch every weekend.