It hasn't quite been the season so far that Tottenham Hotspur fans would have hoped it would be and whilst they can still boast being the only unbeaten side remaining in the Premier League, Mauricio Pochettino's side have a lot of work to do.

Spurs have saved their woes for the European stage, losing both matches at their temporary home ground Wembley, and it's left the Lilywhites looking down the barrel of the gun and facing an early exit from Europe's elite competition.

Tuesday night's trip to Monaco will play a major factor in deciding the fate of Spurs and a defeat could leave them out of the competition- but that's what Tottenham fans should be hoping for if they are to get their season back on track.

Whilst it's a questionable view, we've identified three key reasons why Spurs fans should pray for a defeat in their next Champions League tie...

No midweek distractions

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Tottenham have clearly struggled to cope with the demands of playing Champions League football in midweek and Premier League games at the weekend, so an exit from European competitions entirely would be the safest best for Mauricio Pochettino's side.

The Europa League is infamous for messing with a club's schedule, which means Spurs should look to avoid a third-place finish in the group, but an exit from Europe entirely would really benefit a Spurs squad which is struggling to compete.

Spurs depth isn't good enough in truth and their key-players haven't been able to shine in the scheduling, so Pochettino's side should focus on the long-term.

Focus on the title race

As it stands, Tottenham Hotspur are still within the title race but only by a whisker. They came from behind to secure points against Arsenal and West Ham United but, had they lost those games, the Lilywhites would have had their dreams of title success shattered.

Harry Winks

Don't get us wrong, there is still a lot of work to do if Spurs are to win the Premier League but Liverpool and Chelsea have both shone without European distractions, enabling both sides to lead an impressive charge towards glory.

If Spurs can do the same, then they'll have a distinct advantage over the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United.

Find some consistency

Tottenham's main issue this season has been finding consistency, despite the fact that they're unbeaten in the Premier League. Saturday's win over West Ham was only their second in their last nine matches in all competitions, which isn't a record to be proud of.

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Spurs had form in September but have struggled since and the build-up of matches heading into the festive season presents a crucial test for Spurs. Pochettino's side face Chelsea, Manchester United and Southampton before the turn of the year, in a run of games which could define their season.

With the race for the title and European football being incredibly tight, Spurs should sacrifice European ambitions to secure their spot in the competition next term- otherwise they could end-up losing their key-players.