The last thread keeping Antonio Conte tied to Tottenham is the one weaving him into the narrative as the best man to clinch their place in the top four.
Spurs are a team built for his 3-4-3 system and without the distractions of those pesky cup competitions, Conte can knuckle down on tactical sessions through the week to summon a strong finish.
Qualify once again for the Champions League and they can all pretend the appointment was a success before going their separate ways at the end of his contract.
A dozen fixtures remain and the run-in is not too daunting, although it requires nine wins to beat last season’s total of 71 points.