Danny Murphy Outlines Realistic Goals For Tottenham After Super Cup Setback

Danny Murphy outlines what would define a successful season for Spurs

Tottenham’s UEFA Super Cup heartbreak at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain might have dampened spirits in the short term, but former Spurs midfielder Danny Murphy believes the club’s long-term outlook remains encouraging, provided expectations are set realistically.

• Aaron Lennon: Spurs Lacked Game Management in Painful PSG Super Cup Defeat.

The North London side, under new boss Thomas Frank, came within minutes of lifting silverware in Udine before PSG staged a dramatic late recovery and edged them in a penalty shootout. For Murphy, the defeat should not obscure the progress being made or the targets that are within reach this season.

“I think to get back into the European places and have a good run in the Champions League, that would be realistic,” Murphy told BBC Sport. “I think there is lots to look forward to: better competition for places, younger players with more experience and there's still a few weeks left in the window.”

• Spurs Boss Thomas Frank: ‘We will come flying out against Burnley’

Frank’s reign began in challenging circumstances, inheriting a squad that had experienced both a European triumph and managerial upheaval within a matter of weeks. Yet Murphy points to the depth and blend of youth in the squad as signs that the campaign could still be a productive one.

The road back to European competition, coupled with the possibility of making an impact in the Champions League, forms what he considers a strong and achievable blueprint for the season ahead.