Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho says his side “have problems I cannot resolve myself” but does not believe Spurs are in crisis after losing at West Ham – their fifth defeat in six league games.
The 2-1 reverse leaves Tottenham in ninth place, nine points behind the fourth-placed Hammers.
Michail Antonio and Jesse Lingard scored for the hosts before Lucas Moura pulled one back.
“I wouldn’t say crisis,” said Mourinho when questioned about Spurs’ form.
“I would say a bad, a really bad, run of results. That is obvious. We’re losing too many matches.”
on Sunday suggested Mourinho’s job could be at risk if his team failed to win at London Stadium.
The two-time Champions League winner has been criticised by some Spurs fans for a perceived negative approach to games but, asked whether Tottenham’s slump was related to his style of management, Mourinho replied: “No, not at all. Mine and my coaching staff’s methods are second to nobody in the world.
“I think for a long, long time, we have problems in the team that I cannot resolve by myself as a coach.”
The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager suggested winning the Europa League could be Tottenham’s most likely route into next season’s Champions League.
Thursday’s 4-1 win over Austrian outfit Wolfsberger in Budapest leaves Mourinho’s side in an excellent position to reach the last 16.
“In the Europa League we are alive,” he said. “It’s a window of opportunity that is open for us. Maybe we can also get to the Champions League through the Europa League.”
Ex-Newcastle striker Alan Shearer: “When you look at the money Mourinho has spent then that tells me they are no better off than they were under Mauricio Pochettino. Defensively I don’t see them being better. I think they need to improve massively in that area. You look at the West Ham team and their manager David Moyes, he has made several of their players a lot better.”
Former Tottenham defender Alan Hutton: “The thing that is frustrating about watching Tottenham is they’ve brought in a manager to try to win things and earlier in the season when they were beating Manchester City and Arsenal but playing defensively, you thought ‘oh we can deal with it, as long as we’re winning’. They’ve got the attacking flair players to try to win games.”
ormer Aston Villa and Coventry striker Dion Dublin: “In my opinion, a coach can make players better, a manager needs to deal with individual personalities. That is his job. A manager has to deal with the individual personalities in the dressing room to get harmony.”
Former Manchester City & QPR defender Nedum Onuoha: “If Spurs ended up finishing where they are now but win the League Cup, is Mourinho their manager for next season?
“When you’ve not won a trophy since 2008 – for a club that size, that’s such a long time. To do it this year you’ll be beating Manchester City, who are probably the form team in Europe at this moment in time. Is that something to celebrate?”
Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison: “With that squad of players they should be doing better. If they finish ninth and win a cup I think they’ll keep Mourinho for next season. But for me it’s still a bad season. Considering the players they have it’s really disappointing.
“I think Tottenham have to concentrate on the Europa League. That’s a passage into the Champions League, because I can’t see them making the top four this season. If you’re not playing Champions League football, you’re going to lose players like Kane and Son.”