Rio Ferdinand and Peter Crouch are both adamant Tottenham will NOT finish in the top four

Rio Ferdinand and Peter Crouch are both adamant that Tottenham will not finish in the top four of the Premier League come the end of the season.

The former pros-turned-pundits were speaking after Antonio Conte’s side lost 1-0 to AC Milan in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 at the San Siro.

Despite falling to a defeat thanks to an early Brahim Diaz goal, Spurs are very much still in the tie – with youngsters Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr rising to the occasion for an injury-hit Tottenham side. 

However, former Spurs striker Crouch has questioned whether the pair can consistently perform for Tottenham – as Conte faces a dilemma with Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma on the sidelines.  

 ‘This is the problem. I think Skipp and Sarr were fantastic tonight, they were magnificent,’ Crouch said on BT Sport. ‘But can they do it consistently? They’re still young men, they’re still going to make mistakes. 

Tottenham lost 1-0 to AC Milan at the San Siro but they are still firmly within the Champions League tie

Rio Ferdinand and Peter Crouch are both adamant Spurs will not finish in the top four due to their inconsistency

‘This is the issue Tottenham fans have, has the money been spent in the right way? Is this squad good enough to finish in the top four. I’ll sit here right now and say no.’

Former Manchester United defender Ferdinand did not hesitate in echoing Crouch’s words. ‘I agree, no chance,’ he said.

But ex-Spurs midfielder Jenas remains convinced that Tottenham can still qualify for the top four. ‘The battle for top four is not cemented. I don’t think any team are definitely going to do it,’ he said. Ferdinand replied: ‘Man United are’. 

Jenas hit back, saying: ‘Manchester City, Arsenal are definitely going to be in there and probably Manchester United. That next spot, Newcastle and Spurs in particular, I don’t know.’

Crouch added: ‘I can’t see Tottenham going on a run, going unbeaten in ten games and getting in the top four the way it is now.’

Meanwhile Ferdinand interjected, saying: ‘Everyone around them has not been consistent to this point, you don’t know how this next spell’s going to be when the pressure’s on. 

Former Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas believes Tottenham have as good a chance as any team around them of finishing in the top four

‘You don’t know how they’re going to perform under that pressure. Chelsea if they click, the players they’ve invested in. It’s all ifs, buts and maybes. I don’t think Spurs will finish top four.’

But Jenas held his ground that Spurs can still qualify for the Champions League next season. He added: ‘I think they’ve got as good a chance as any team that’s around them. My issue with Spurs is, pick a way of playing that’s positive and it you’re not going to finish in the top four, do it by trying to play the right way.

‘We saw against City they can do it. The minute they start playing another way.’

Tottenham are currently fifth in the Premier League, two points adrift of the top four having played an extra game than fourth-placed Newcastle.