Tottenham Hotspur kick off their Champions League campaign against Marseille on Wednesday night, having added fuel to rival fans' fire in the build-up.
Antonio Conte ’s men take their first venture into Europe’s premier competition on Wednesday evening this season - their first return to the Champions League since the 2019/20 season having finished fourth last term at the expense of fierce rivals Arsenal. The club’s marketing department have consequently been attempting to drum up interest in the game since but did make one glaring error with one particular tweet during their latest training session.
Spurs’ official Twitter account shared an image of a drinking bottle adorned with the Champions League logo with the caption “Hotspur Way”. Whilst the tweet itself was not initially problematic, it was quickly picked upon by rival fans
A number poked fun at the club’s lack of ‘bottle’ with the side having become somewhat symptomatic of not being able to lift major silverware over the last few years... with the word 'Spursy' becoming somewhat synonymous with Spurs' failings.
The north Londoners have not claimed a trophy since the 2008 League Cup against Chelsea. Since then, they have reached four finals - three of those being the League Cup and the other being the Champions League showdown with Premier League rivals Liverpool in Madrid in 2019.
They have also gone close to winning the domestic title on a few occasions but ended up finishing third and second respectively in 2015/16 and 2016/17 respectively - Leicester City and Chelsea beating them to the Premier League trophy on each occasion.
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Reddit user Cgurts, a Tottenham fan, responded to the tweet with the retort: “We don't help ourselves do we.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal fan Noobchee wrote: “The memes really do write themselves.”
Spurs then deleted the tweet in order to avoid more ridicule. Whilst some will likely aim more jokes at the north London club should they be on the end of a reverse against Marseille, Conte has remained serious in his task to bring silverware to the club.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Italian said: “Success in Europe with a trophy is important for every manager. You know very well that it is not simple, not easy to lift a trophy in Europe and especially the Champions League. It is important to be there and you have more probability if you are the coach of a team who expects to win.
“Two years ago with Inter Milan we lost the final of the Europa League against Sevilla. For sure, in my heart, in my mind, in my ambition there is the will to have success in Europe.”
