Joe Cole insists Mauricio Pochettino‘s belief that Tottenham may need five or 10 years to win a Premier League title would prompt him to call his agent if he was Harry Kane or Dele Alli.

The Argentine bemoaned Spurs’ recent slide, which has seen them drop nine points off leaders Liverpool despite previously threatening to challenge for the title.

“We have to look at ourselves and maybe assess ourselves in different ways – we are not looking for excuses,” Pochettino said.

“It is holding us back and it might take five years’ work, 10 years’ work to change that.”

And Cole believes Pochettino’s intent may push Spurs’ best players to consider their future.

Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Show all 23 1 /23 Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Chelsea vs Tottenham player ratings LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: A general view of a street sign outside the stadium prior tod the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on February 27, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) Getty Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Willy Caballero - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 21: Willy Caballero of Chelsea reacts during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 Second Leg match between Chelsea and Malmo FF at Stamford Bridge on February 21, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Julian Finney Getty Images Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Cesar Azpilicueta - 7 Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Chelsea - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - February 10, 2019 Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta gestures to fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. CARL RECINE Action Images via Reuters Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham David Luiz - 8 MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: David Luiz of Chelsea looks dejected during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Etihad Stadium on February 10, 2019 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) Laurence Griffiths Getty Images Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Antonio Rudiger - 7 Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Chelsea - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - February 10, 2019 Chelsea's Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz during the match Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. CARL RECINE Action Images via Reuters Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Marcos Alonso - 7 Chelsea's Marcos Alonso reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Jon Super) Jon Super AP Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham N'Golo Kante - 7 LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 02: N'Golo Kante of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Huddersfield Town at Stamford Bridge on February 02, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Catherine Ivill Getty Images Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Jorginho - 7 Chelsea's Jorginho applauds the fans after the Premier League match at Stamford Bridge, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday December 2, 2018. See PA story SOCCER Chelsea. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Andrew Matthews PA Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Mateo Kovacic - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 19: Mateo Kovacic of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on January 19, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Catherine Ivill Getty Images Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Pedro - 8 LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 19: Pedro of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on January 19, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Getty Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Eden Hazard - 6 Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 10, 2019. - Manchester City won the match 6-0. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images OLI SCARFF AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Gonzalo Higuain - 6 Chelsea's Argentinian striker Gonzalo Higuain gestures the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Burnley at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 10, 2019. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images OLI SCARFF AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Hugo Lloris - 5 LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 10: Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on February 10, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Catherine Ivill Getty Images Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Kieran Trippier - 5 LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 02: Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 2, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) Tottenham Hotspur FC (Credit too long, see caption) Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Toby Alderweireld - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Watford FC at Wembley Stadium on January 30, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Catherine Ivill Getty Images Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Davinson Sanchez - 6 Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - February 10, 2019 Tottenham's Davinson Sanchez celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. ANDREW COULDRIDGE Action Images via Reuters Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Ben Davies - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Tottenham Hotspur players warm-up prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on February 27, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) Getty Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Moussa Sissoko - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 13: Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on January 13, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) Getty Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Harry Winks - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Harry Winks of Tottenham Hotspur runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Watford FC at Wembley Stadium on January 30, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) Tottenham Hotspur FC (Credit too long, see caption) Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Heung-Min Son - 6 LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 02: Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at Wembley Stadium on February 2, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Michael Regan Getty Images Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Christian Eriksen - 6 epa07338744 Tottenham Christian Eriksen in action during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in London, Britain, 02 February 2019. EPA/ANDY RAIN EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. ANDY RAIN EPA Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Erik Lamela - 6 Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - February 23, 2019 Tottenham's Erik Lamela reacts after the match REUTERS/Andrew Yates EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. ANDREW YATES REUTERS Player ratings from Chelsea vs Tottenham Harry Kane - 6 Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - February 23, 2019 Tottenham's Harry Kane during the match Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. CARL RECINE Action Images via Reuters

“If I’m Harry Kane and Dele Alli and my manager is saying we’re five, 10 years away from winning a trophy, I’m on the phone to the agent,” Cole told BT Sport.

“I agree he’s made an improvement, but I don’t see a change in the mentality.

“You’re still seeing the same problems, they’re playing good football, we expect things, then they turn up and something will happen, like losing to Burnley.”

Harry Kane and Dele Alli celebrate vs Chelsea (Getty)

Spurs play Arsenal in the north London derby this weekend having lost back-to-back games, including a 2-0 loss to rivals Chelsea, who can close to within four points if they win their game in hand.