Tottenham Show Flashes of Brilliance Against PSG but Costly Lapses Expose Their Biggest Weaknesses
It’s a unique challenge trying to figure out what’s going on with Tottenham Hotspur. No other team seems quite like them.
How many clubs could possibly lose a match 5-3 after already suffering a 4-1 defeat in their previous outing, especially with a manager known for his defensive approach?
And how many teams could lose 5-3, yet still leave you feeling like there were genuinely positive aspects to the performance, suggesting an improvement over their recent displays?
The curious thing about this Spurs showing is that a significant portion of it – around 80% – was actually quite strong, well-structured, and a complete contrast to the capitulation against Arsenal.
They demonstrated dedication and organization defensively and displayed real attacking intent whenever the opportunity to counter arose.
They battled hard and earned the right to play some football, which they managed to do with reasonable success.
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However, a significant portion, about 20%, of their play was incredibly poor. And now, once more, their overall quality is confusing and difficult to assess.
Can a 5-3 loss, even against the reigning European champions, realistically offer any genuine positivity? For most teams, the answer would be no, but Tottenham is a unique case.
Let’s consider the positives. The midfield diamond formation proved effective. Lucas Bergvall frequently found space in the center of the field, creating uncertainty for PSG’s defense regarding who should mark him.
While he is still young, inexperienced, and needs considerable development in his final decisions, Tottenham’s play is noticeably more dynamic when he is on the field.
While his promise was frequently wasted through questionable choices, moments of sound judgment unleashed truly remarkable sequences.
A prime example involved Bergvall initiating a smooth offensive move, followed by Gray’s contribution close to the PSG goal, culminating in Kolo Muani’s pass to Richarlison for a simple score – his third consecutive game finding the net.
However, the fact that Tottenham hasn’t secured a victory in any of those matches perfectly sums up Richarlison’s time with the club, highlighting both his potential and the team’s overall struggles.
Adding to the narrative, Kolo Muani displayed significant talent. In an ironic turn of events, the most impressive player on the field that evening actually represented the opposing team, showcasing a somewhat absurd twist to the match.
Regardless, his contribution was undeniable. After providing that assist, he went on to score his first two goals for Tottenham in the second half, impressively achieving this while wearing a protective mask to shield a fractured jaw.
This injury was suffered during the baffling 2-2 draw against Manchester United prior to the international break, adding another layer of complexity to his already eventful season.
Kolo Muani’s arrival at Tottenham on loan during the transfer window’s final hours was hampered by a lack of match fitness, the result of being sidelined by his previous coach.
This was compounded by a leg injury that sidelined him for a significant period, followed by another setback in the game against Manchester United.
Consequently, his initial period at Spurs has been characterized by frustrating interruptions. However, judging by his recent performance, he has the potential to significantly improve the team.
He appears to offer a more refined and adaptable attacking option compared to the unpredictable Richarlison, and together they could form a strong partnership.
Richarlison’s recent goal provided a glimpse of this potential, suggesting that a more direct attacking formation might unlock the team’s full potential.
So far this season, Kolo Muani has not played many games for Spurs, and we have almost forgotten his presence on the team this season.
This raises the question of how soon a player can feel like a completely fresh acquisition after their initial signing. As is often the case with Tottenham, the answer remains uncertain.
Aside from some overall team issues, Gray’s individual performance was a definite highlight, along with Sarr’s play for much of the game.
Moving forward, it’s crucial that Thomas Frank makes sure at least one of Bergvall, Gray, or Sarr is always on the field.
This simple adjustment could potentially alleviate the lack of creative spark that’s been obvious with Kulusevski and Maddison out.
However, there were some truly awful moments. Right before halftime, Spurs inexplicably lost focus defending a corner, after comfortably controlling PSG with relative confidence up to that point.
Vitinha was given way too much space and scored a fantastic goal from distance.
Then, not long after regaining the lead, Spurs seemed determined to give Vitinha another chance to demonstrate his long-range shooting skills.
Again, he was allowed to freely shift the ball to his favored foot and curl an even better shot past the goalkeeper.
Spurs were merely flexing their comedic abilities, however. After performing well for a sustained period, they opted to essentially hand over a couple of goals to the top team. It’s a daring tactic, indeed.
The initial present, PSG’s third score, originated from Romero choosing to attempt a passing play from their own defensive area through a heavily guarded Sarr.
Shortly thereafter, Spurs needlessly conceded a corner kick and then appeared to neglect their defensive duties almost entirely.
A sudden sequence of exceptionally unwise choices negated a lot of earlier commendable effort.
We haven’t witnessed such an illogical disintegration from a promising situation by a fundamentally absurd team on TNT Sport since, predictably, Saturday morning.
The problem with playing thoughtless, disorganized football is that it can easily spread throughout the team. Even with time running out, PSG was susceptible to this.
The usually outstanding Vitinha made a costly error, leading to Tottenham’s third goal and Muani’s second.
While he redeemed himself somewhat by scoring a penalty, completing his first ever hat-trick and maintaining PSG’s two-goal lead, the damage was done.
Surprisingly, the scoring ended there, but the nonsensical play didn’t. Deep into added time, Lucas Hernandez, inexplicably giving in to a moment of madness, got himself ejected for a blatant elbow to Xavi Simons’ face, all while his team was winning 5-3.
What prompted that? Who knows. What logic was behind any of this? Impossible to say. What’s the significance of it all? Perhaps there isn’t any. Maybe it’s just a random sequence of events, devoid of deeper meaning.
Check back with us after Tottenham likely takes an initial lead only to then be defeated 2-1 by Fulham at home on Saturday. In short, expect more unpredictable and baffling football.
