Sunday 30 October 2016 23:26, UK
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino cannot remember a more frustrating period in his managerial career but insists there is no need to panic.
Spurs' 1-1 draw against Leicester on Saturday means they have now gone five games without a victory and four without scoring a goal from open play.
Draws against West Brom, Bournemouth and Bayer Leverkusen, as well as a defeat to Liverpool in the EFL Cup, have deflated the mood at White Hart Lane since their brilliant win against Manchester City at the start of October.
Key absentees have played a part, with Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld still recovering from ankle and leg injuries respectively, Moussa Sissoko out suspended and Erik Lamela suffering from illness.
When asked if he had endured a spell in management as frustrating as this, Pochettino said: "I don't remember having one.
"It is hard because the players come, maybe not injured, but with many problems and maybe play two games and with the small problems we have with Toby Alderweireld, Harry Kane, Sissoko's suspension and Erik Lamela on Saturday.
"Yes it is true it is a tough period when you play, play, play that you need all the squad available, but you need to adapt to the competition and we are happy.
"It is true we are disappointed with the last few results but in the same way we need to take positives in and keep working."
Spurs remain unbeaten in the league and in touch at the top of the table, fourth and three points off the top, but they have a tough month ahead.
The crunch games against Leverkusen and Arsenal come before two more grudge matches in the capital against West Ham and Chelsea, either side of a trip to Monaco in the Champions League.
"I never panic," Pochettino said. "In football, no. When I go to the streets sometimes I am scared to walk on the street because you never know there are crazy people there, but in football never.
"In a bad period we are also very positive because we are unbeaten. Maybe we don't win but we don't lose and that is important.
"But we have ahead two very important games Leverkusen will be key for us and Arsenal too because it is the derby."
