Tottenham face reminder of dramatic decline in Atletico Madrid clash

[p]Languishing in 16th place in the Premier League, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Tottenham[/a] are just one point above the relegation zone after Thursday's shambolic 3-1 home defeat against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/crystal-palace/AovF1Mia/"]Crystal Palace[/a].[/p][p]The north Londoners are in grave danger of playing in the second tier for the first time since 1977/78 after conceding two or more goals in nine successive league matches for the first time in their history.[/p][p]They have lost five consecutive league games and are without a win in 11 consecutive top-flight matches for the first time since 1975.[/p][p]Against that alarming backdrop, Igor Tudor's side would love to ease the pain of their domestic problems with a win against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico[/a] in the Champions League last 16 first leg.[/p][p]But [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/atl-madrid-jaarqpLQ/tottenham-UDg08Ohm/?mid=IPLvX3GD"]Tottenham's trip to Madrid[/a] will serve to remind furious fans just how far their club has fallen since their last appearance at the Metropolitano seven years ago.[/p][embed guid="1be768cb-6682-4bac-bf0c-dd417d4fcac7" url="https://x.com/SpursOfficial/status/2030705183445979355?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]When Tottenham reached the 2019 Champions League final, Mauricio Pochettino's team, featuring [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Harry Kane[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/son-heung-min/Mgg9oPeM/"]Son Heung-min[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/eriksen-christian/nBRuYbqs/"]Christian Eriksen[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lloris-hugo/dlT4erCr/"]Hugo Lloris[/a], was regarded as an emerging force.[/p][p]But they lost 2-0 to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] in the final after delivering a limp performance.[/p][p]Within five months, Pochettino was sacked, starting a slow decline that could end with the humiliation of relegation.[/p][p]As well as the unwanted memories stirred up by their return to the Metropolitano, facing Atletico provides a glimpse into why Tottenham are known as English football's serial underachievers.[/p][p]In 1963, they thrashed Atletico 5-1 in the European Cup Winners' Cup final, becoming the first British side to win a European trophy - just two years after lifting the English title and the FA Cup in the same season.[/p][p]That kind of dominance has been a pipe dream for Tottenham fans in the decades since.[/p][h2]'Players need to take responsibility'[/h2][p]Daniel Levy, Tottenham's chairman for nearly 25 years until his surprise departure in September, often took the blame for his club's struggles.[/p][p]But their problems since Levy's exit have turned the spotlight on Tottenham's overhauled hierarchy, led by sporting director Johan Lange and CEO Vinai Venkatesham.[/p][p]Massive investment in a state-of-the-art stadium and plush training centre gives Tottenham the appearance of a European power.[/p][p]But the turmoil that has gripped the club for the last 18 months is the real evidence of their diminished status.[/p][embed guid="0659328d-c78f-4f6f-9aea-0f5af2d86c88" url="https://x.com/i/status/2028485965837222006" social-type="twitter" /][p]Even winning the Europa League last season to end a 17-year trophy drought has done nothing to rid the club of the stench of failure.[/p][p]Ange Postecoglou was sacked soon after that Europa victory due to Tottenham's dismal domestic form, which included a 17th-place finish in the Premier League that ranked as their lowest in the top-flight since 1977.[/p][p]Postecoglou's overly-attacking tactics played a major role in his demise, but replacing the charismatic Australian with the pragmatic Thomas Frank was a disastrous decision.[/p][p]Frank was lauded for his success on a budget at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brentford/xYe7DwID/"]Brentford[/a], but the Dane's dour game plan quickly alienated fans and players alike.[/p][p]Tottenham boldly trumpet their 'to dare is to do' ethos, yet under Frank, they were cautious to a fault.[/p][p]It took the Tottenham hierarchy just less than eight months to realise their mistake.[/p][p]Frank was sacked on February 11th, but interim boss Tudor has been unable to spark a revival, with Tottenham beaten in his first three matches.[/p][p]Tottenham have spent only one season outside the top-flight since 1950.[/p][p]They have nine games left to save themselves and panic is beginning to set in among Tudor's injury-ravaged squad.[/p][embed guid="184a1977-3a75-4817-be24-54ddfc689652" url="https://x.com/premierleague/status/2029688268690792931?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Tottenham striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/solanke-dominic/OrADwZse/"]Dominic Solanke[/a] revealed Tudor and his players held talks immediately after the Palace match.[/p][p][b]"We've had a chat between us and we need to understand we need to improve and improve now," [/b]he said.[/p][p][b]"We obviously need to realise the position that we are in. Us players need to take responsibility.[/b][/p][p][b]"We need to make sure next game we are at it and see what we can do to change this form around."[/b][/p]