TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM — While the majority of Tottenham‘s players trotted out clichéd lines alongside their obligatory big win Instagram posts, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg took a different route.
A couple of hours after Spurs had laid down a Premier League title marker by defeating Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Hojbjerg, clearly still fuelled by the adrenaline that powers his game, simply roared “THIS IS SPURS”.
After witnessing the Dane snapping about City’s players’ ankles, encourage and cajole his teammates, celebrate tackles and clearances as if they were Puskás Award-worthy goals for over 90 minutes, all the while doing so in a short-sleeved shirt at the end of November, the Leonidas style caption certainly fit the bill.
Tottenham’s win over City – their third in as many games at the ‘new’ stadium – was sealed by the efficiency of their attackers. Jose Mourinho‘s side converted both of their shots on target, first through Son Heung-min’s trademark goal against City and then from Giovani Lo Celso, 35 seconds after his introduction from the bench following yet another Harry Kane assist.
But the overall performance was underpinned by Tottenham’s defensive doggedness and discipline. Despite not having a single effort on goal, Kane was named man of the match for his sheer work-rate up front. Toby Alderweireld and Eric Dier were superb in central defence, each making three blocks, while Hugo Lloris continued his superb post-lockdown form.
However, it was Hojbjerg who really stood out, perhaps because Spurs have rarely had a player of his ilk before.
Earmarked as a Sergio Busquets successor in the deep-lying playmaker mould by none other than Pep Guardiola in his formative years at Bayern Munich, Hojbjerg has instead developed into the Copenhagen Kante.
He covered over 11km in total here, more than any other Spurs player, was involved in a match-leading 15 duels and made five tackles, the joint-most on the pitch alongside Serge Aurier. Hojbjerg also topped the charts for fouls committed with four yet he managed to escape a caution from the card-happy Mike Dean. That feat certainly fit Mourinho’s idea of an “intelligent” four-letter swearword, as seen and heard on Spurs’ “All or Nothing” documentary.
A picture of Mourinho snarling in admiration at his midfield enforcer after the final whistle became an instant internet meme.
There was a moment ten minutes into the second half that epitomised Hojbjerg’s approach. After forcing Kevin De Bruyne into a cul-de-sac inside the Spurs box and then a hurried cross which floated harmlessly over the top of Lloris’ upright, Hojbjerg clapped his hands vigorously, tensed his fists and issued a thunderous rallying cry to his teammates.
He is Mourinho’s on-pitch leader without the armband.
Until Kane’s Spurs career comes to an end, he will be the club’s de facto MVP. There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that Hojbjerg is the second name on Mourinho’s teamsheet, though. Simply put, there is nobody in the squad that can do what Hojbjerg does.
Hojbjerg arrived to a hundredth of the fanfare afforded to the returning hero Gareth Bale, but he has proven a far more transformative recruit so far. Considering he has played every single minute of Tottenham’s march up the table, there is even an argument to be made that he is the pick of the Premier League signings this summer.
Mourinho was eager to dampen expectations that a first league title could be coming to Tottenham for the first time in 59 years but performances and results like Saturday’s will only increase expectations. But if Spurs are to seriously challenge, keeping Hojbjerg fit and healthy in this most taxing of campaigns will be paramount.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/2Hn901Q
Post a Comment