LONDON -- Ledley King has told ESPN FC he is confident that Tottenham's title challenge will not collapse, saying Mauricio Pochettino's young team is "made of sterner stuff" than Harry Redknapp's swashbuckling side.
Spurs' hopes of winning a maiden Premier League title are fading after the weekend's results left them seven points behind leaders Leicester with six games to play.
Arsenal, in third, are four points behind their north London rivals but have a game in hand.
Redknapp's team, captained by King, blew a 10-point lead over the Gunners in 2011-12 to miss out on Champions League football.
And the defender, who played alongside Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart under Redknapp, said he believed Pochettino's Spurs were better.
"They've proved it throughout the season," King told ESPN FC at the launch of Barclays' Spirit of the Game trophy competition.
"Throughout my time, even finishing in the top four twice in three or four years under Harry, we still weren't as solid as this team. We didn't have the same foundation.
"We had talent -- we could blow teams away on our day -- but we could go away from home and still lose games we should be winning.
"I don't see that in this team. They haven't lost back-to-back games all season. Every time they've lost, they've bounced back. They've shown they're made of sterner stuff."
King struggled with injuries throughout his 13-year career at boyhood club Spurs, with his training restricted before he retired in 2012.
Pochettino is known for his tough preseasons and double training sessions, and King said he would have found life tough under the coach.
"To be honest, I would have had a problem because of the demands of his team," he said. "I wouldn't have had a problem playing football, but I would have had other problems.
"I was lucky to have Harry, because some managers wouldn't allow me not to train. Five years I didn't train, and I wouldn't wish that on anybody."
Although Harry Kane and Dele Alli have made the headlines this season, the bedrock of Spurs' season has been the best defence in the top flight, marshalled by Toby Alderweireld.
King has been impressed with Tottenham's solid spine and full-backs Kyle Walker and Danny Rose, the only two current players remaining from his own playing days.
He said: "It's not something you associate with Tottenham. We've always had good individual players, but the strength is in the team at the moment.
"Toby's been excellent and the full-backs are improving, maturing -- Rose and Walker are coming of age.
"It's just such a strong foundation and spine. If you want to compete at the highest level, you have to have a good spine and foundation to build success on."
King feels Spurs could have done nothing more in their pursuit of a first top-flight title since 1961 and puts the success of both his former club and Leicester down to the players enjoying themselves.
"You can't downplay just how important it is to enjoy playing for a manager," he said. "When you look at Spurs and Leicester, they look like teams that are not only solid and working hard but are also enjoying the game."