Introduction
As the English Premier League season draws to a close, the race for the top-four spots continues to be a hotly contested one. Tottenham Hotspur, popularly known as Spurs, are one of the teams gunning for a top-four spot at the end of the season. In their last match, they managed a hard-fought win against Wolverhampton Wanderers to keep their hopes alive. This article takes a closer look at the tactics employed by Spurs in their 37th round match.
The Starting Lineup
For this match, Jose Mourinho opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation with Hugo Lloris in goal, a back four consisting of Serge Aurier, Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld, and Sergio Reguilon. In midfield, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Tanguy Ndombele played as the holding midfielders, while Dele Alli, Giovani Lo Celso, and Steven Bergwijn played in attacking midfield. Harry Kane was the lone striker upfront.
Defensive Tactics
Spurs played with a high defensive line, thus keeping the opposition on their toes. As soon as the opposition gained possession of the ball, Spurs players quickly closed in on them, not giving them much time on the ball. They constantly pressed the opposition in their half, making it hard for them to create any meaningful attacks. This tactic worked well as the opposition eventually lost the ball deep in their half, which led to Spurs taking the lead through Harry Kane.
Midfield Play
The midfield trio of Hojbjerg, Ndombele, and Alli worked well together in this match. Hojbjerg sat back and played the role of the defensive midfielder, breaking up opposition attacks and protecting the back four. Ndombele was tasked with carrying the ball forward from midfield and providing key passes to the attackers. Alli, who played in an advanced midfield role, was tasked with creating chances for the lone striker, Kane. This midfield combination proved fruitful as Spurs managed to create several chances throughout the match.
Attacking Play
Spurs' attacking play was based on swift counter-attacks through their wingers, Bergwijn and Lo Celso. Both players were given the license to run at the opposition defense whenever Spurs won the ball back in their half. This tactic led to several chances for the team, and one such chance led to the second goal of the match, scored by Hojbjerg. Harry Kane, as always, was the focal point of the attack, holding the ball up well, and bringing his teammates into play. He also managed to score the opening goal of the match, which set the tone for the rest of the game.
Substitutions
As the match wore on, and the opposition pushed forward in search of goals, Spurs made two substitutions to shore up their defense. Ben Davies replaced Alli to add more defensive stability to the midfield, while Moussa Sissoko came on to replace Bergwijn to add more physical presence to the team. These substitutions worked well as Spurs managed to keep a clean sheet in the end.
Conclusion
Overall, Spurs put in a solid performance to keep their top-four hopes alive. Their tactics were spot on, and they managed to execute them perfectly on the day. If they continue to play like this, they have a real chance of securing a top-four spot in the Premier League this season.
