For Daniel Levy, both decisions at hand are difficult to take. On one hand, Spurs play a distinct style of play under Ange Postecoglou and during the Australian’s leadership, they finished fifth in the Premier League during his debut campaign and reached the semi-final of the Carabao Cup this season.

The manager insists he has to keep making changes but there is a danger the club's dismal league form may soon affect their European chances

It’s never a great sign when a manager starts publicly calling out players for underperforming, but it’s a particularly galling thing to hear from a Premier League head coach so regularly frustrated by journalists criticising his players.