Five things we learned from Tottenham’s 3-0 Europa League win over Qarabag
Tottenham Hotspur kicked off their European campaign with a 3-0 win over Qarabag this evening, despite playing the vast majority of the tie with just ten men.
Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from the game:
Red for Radu
This one was a shame all around. Not only did Dragusin put his team in a tough spot, but he has also put himself in a nasty position. The Europa League was meant to be his time to shine, and now he is set to sit some of the League Phase out through suspension. He really should have let his man go and risk going 1-0 down. You would always rather be 1-0 down with 11 men than 0-0 with ten.
What a team performance!
Playing for over 80 minutes with ten men is no easy task against any team, and tonight was no different. On paper, it may seem that Spurs enjoyed a walk in the park against lesser opposition, even after Dragusin’s red, but they had to work for every bit of that win.
What we saw was 10 players fully behind Ange Postecoglou’s way of thinking and way of playing. They pressed together, passed out from the back bravely, and held that good old high line we have come to love and fear with equal measure. This will be a real confidence booster for that Tottenham side.
Lucas Bergvall the victim
A tough night for 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall. It was supposed to be a chance for him to impress as the main creative force in the Spurs XI, but he was taken off after just 10 minutes to fill the gap left by Dragusin’s red.
Unfortunately, he was the only player who could make way while still retaining Tottenham’s typical shape. Anyone else and it would have crumbled or Ange would have had to change formation completely. Of course, there will be plenty of other nights for Lucas.
Brennan is on fire!
Three goals, three games, three competitions, one week. Brennan Johnson has had one incredible reaction to the abuse he suffered in the opening weeks of the season. That is always the best way to answer your critics – get your head down and shut them up with your performances on the pitch.
He looks like a man possessed at the moment. Johnson a few weeks ago would pass the ball back instead of taking his man on. Johnson at the moment is full of danger and direct running. Hopefully, this is a lesson to certain Spurs supporters.
Archie Gray is going to be some player
Sometimes, you can just tell a youngster is destined for something big. Of course, we want to keep Gray grounded, but the kid oozes class on the ball. The inverted right-back role looks ready-made for him in this Postecoglou system.
Not only was he calm and collected at the back, always finding little triangles to get Spurs from their defensive third into the middle of the pitch, but he also made some really creative inverted runs too. The best thing is, he is only going to get better.
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