It’s been a season full of setbacks for Tottenham, and now, with their domestic cup hopes officially crushed, the Europa League is their last shot at silverware.
When Ange Postecoglou took over, he promised a trophy in his second season—but after Sunday’s disappointing loss to Aston Villa, that dream is hanging by a thread.
Spurs fans made their frustration clear once again, directing chants at chairman Daniel Levy, calling for him to leave.
And with the Premier League now a long shot, the focus shifts to just how bad this season has been and whether there’s still time to turn things around.
Injury Woes and Defensive Nightmares
One of the biggest factors in Tottenham’s struggles this season has been the never-ending injury list.
Key players like Cristian Romero, Micky Van De Ven, and Guglielmo Vicario have all missed significant time, forcing young players like Archie Gray to step up.
While they’ve done their best, the defensive gaps have been brutal, and that instability might be the only thing keeping Postecoglou in his job.
Defensive frailties have been the real Achilles’ heel.
Whether it’s injuries in the backline or problems further up the pitch, Spurs’ defensive numbers are among the worst in the league.
The stats paint a grim picture.
Goals Conceded: Among the Worst in the League
While Tottenham isn’t in a relegation battle—they sit 14th in the Premier League, 10 points clear of the drop zone—their defensive record tells a different story.
Across all competitions, they’ve played 39 games and conceded a staggering 57 goals.
That’s over 1.5 goals per game, a number that’s only better than Leicester and Southampton, who have let in 62 and 63 goals, respectively.
Things look even worse in 2025 alone.
Since the start of the year, Spurs have conceded 17 goals, putting them level with Ipswich but worse than teams like Southampton and Leicester.
In the Premier League, they’ve allowed 37 goals, making their defense the fifth-worst in the division.
Constant Pressure: Shots Faced Pile Up
If conceding goals wasn’t bad enough, the sheer volume of shots Tottenham has faced is just as alarming.
In 11 games so far this year, Spurs have faced 167 shots—an average of over 15 per game. Of those, 52 have been on target, and 17 have found the back of the net.
They rank third-worst in the league for shots faced per game, just behind West Ham (15.8) and Brentford (16.3).
Across all competitions, they’ve allowed over 40 more shots than any other Premier League team, with Manchester City in second at 126.
In terms of shots on target, Spurs have conceded 52, which is more than Southampton (46), Manchester City (44), and Newcastle (43). That’s not exactly the company they want to keep.
Expected Goals Against: High-Quality Chances Given Away
Tottenham’s defensive issues aren’t just about quantity—they’re also giving up high-quality chances at an alarming rate.
Their expected goals against (xGA) for 2025 sits at 20.1, meaning they should have conceded even more goals than they already have.
For context, xGA measures the likelihood of a shot resulting in a goal based on its location and quality.
Despite their struggles, Spurs have only let in 17 goals this year, meaning goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky has played a crucial role in keeping them afloat.
With an average xGA of 1.8 per game, Spurs are the second-worst in the league, only behind Southampton, who sit at 2.4. Simply put, they’re leaking dangerous chances far too often.
A Glimmer of Hope: Attacking Firepower Still Shines
For all their defensive woes, Tottenham’s attack has been surprisingly strong.
Injuries have hit their frontline hard, with Dominic Solanke sidelined, Wilson Odobert missing most of the season, and Richarlison now facing another spell out.
Yet, they’ve still managed to find the back of the net consistently.
Spurs have scored 48 goals this season, the third-most in the league, behind only Liverpool (56) and Arsenal (49), and level with Manchester City.
They also rank fifth for expected goals and big chances created, proving they have the firepower to compete.
Can Spurs Turn Things Around?
The return of key defenders like Romero and Van De Ven could help stabilize the backline, but the question is whether it will be soon enough to salvage their season.
If they can tighten up defensively, the attacking talent is there to push for a strong finish in the league and a deep Europa League run.
The big issue remains: how quickly can they fix their defense? If Spurs don’t find a solution soon, their last remaining hope of winning a trophy this season could slip away just like the others.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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