Dimitar Berbatov has stressed that Jose Mourinho deserves a full season in charge at Tottenham.
Appointed as Mauricio Pochettino's successor back in November, results have been up and down under the experienced manager.
Having cut Chelsea's 12-point lead down to a single point in the top-four race back in February, they have since fallen seven points behind their London rivals after a dreadful run of form.
A host of injuries to key players has certainly not helped Mourinho in his four months in N17, while a lack of time on the training pitch due to their hectic schedule has meant he has not been able to implement his own philosophy.
As bad as it has been for Tottenham fans this season, their former frontman has claimed that "there's no need to panic" as they look to get back to challenging at the top end of the table.
"Mourinho definitely deserves a full season in charge," he told The Sun. "He’s been at Tottenham for less than four months and in that time his team has been hit with injuries to key players.
"They were poor against Leipzig, completely outplayed, but are people seriously saying he should be sacked?
"There’s no need to panic. It’s going to be a long journey for Spurs under him.
"The suspension of the Premier League means Mourinho has time to think over strategies and give players time to get back from injury.
"He’s going through a difficult period but that can change with a single result. In the end it depends on the players.
"It doesn’t matter how loud you yell on the touchline, sometimes nobody can hear you on the pitch."
Although there is a lack of Premier League football at present as all football is suspended until April 30, Harry Kane has found himself in the headlines in regards to a potential move away.
Berbatov did likewise in 2008 as he swapped Spurs for Manchester United and he has opened up on the decision the England captain will have to make at some point in the future.
"If you’re at a club where you haven’t won anything then you have to decide whether the most important thing is to help them succeed," he added.
"Or you have to decide to go somewhere you are more likely to win medals.
"For Kane it’s very difficult because he’s a Spurs fan. There’s speculation that Kane might benefit from a change of club.
"As somebody who made a big move, I can tell that only the player knows what his priorities are."
