Tim Sherwood: Tottenham ‘miles away’ from top-four finish

Tim Sherwood has warned Tottenham Hotspur that they are “not even close” to performing at the level needed to secure Champions League qualification this season.

The north Londoners suffered another blow in their pursuit of a top-four finish as they were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by Chelsea on Saturday to leave them four points behind Manchester City, who have three games in hand.

“We’re miles away. You can’t finish top four if you can’t beat the top teams

Tim Sherwood

And a furious Sherwood was in no mood to make excuses following his side’s defeat at Stamford Bridge.

“Everyone at the club talks about top four,” said Sherwood, shaking his head, to Sky Sports. “Wake up.

“We’re miles away. You can’t finish top four if you can’t beat the top teams. OK, we’ve beaten Man United and we’ve beaten Everton who are in and around us but you’re reliant on rolling over on, with all due respect, the smaller sides. We’re not even close.”

Sherwood was less-than-pleased with his side’s overall display in west London.

“It’s a lack of characters,” he continued. “Too many of them are too nice to each other, they need to show a bit more gut and not want to be someone’s mate all the time.

“It can’t always be me having a pop at them, they need to drag it out of each other.

“I’m not going to forget about this by the time we get on the motorway, some might. But on to the next [match], that’s the nature of the game. There’s a few I’d count on and there’s a few I wouldn’t.”