Aug 16, 2021 | Sushilspurs11
"It was good I think. The atmosphere was special from the hard work of the boys. They make any crowd proud when they work so hard,"
Nuno Espirito Santo, Tottenham Hotspur Manager
We started our Premier League 2021/22 campaign with a remarkable victory over defending champions Manchester City on our home ground. Heung Min Son’s 55th-minute strike was enough for us to grab all three points against the blues of Manchester.
Everything went as planned in the first Premier League game of Nuno Espirito Santo as a Tottenham Manager, the club faithful were back and so energetic in their return to the stadium that they cheered for every single moment from entry to exit that made the atmosphere electrifying.
Japhet Tanganga the 22 years old defender first came into the scene two years ago as he impressed in preseason with the team. For two years he had been working hard and waiting for the opportunities to come his way, the young centre back was transformed into right back and had impressed whenever he was given the game time. This season also the rumors of him leaving the club on loan circulated only to be turned by the defender himself who decided to stay and fight for his place in the team.
Yesterday his hard work and dedication paid off as he was handed the starting role by the manager. Tanganga was allocated as right back and that was the same side where Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish were about to play, as the lineup was announced everyone made the same assumption that it was not going to be an easy game for the young defender. But in reality, the opposite happened, from the first minute of the game Tanganga made his presence felt for the opposition and dominated.
Throughout the game, Tanganga was stable and didn’t put his foot wrong, when he was substituted he received a standing ovation from the fans. With the man of the match performance against the best team in the league, Tanganga has sent the message he is ready and is not soft.
Special mention for Tanganga was for his impressive display but it was the game where every single of the team delivered. From Lloris to Son every individual was man of the match for their display.
Along with Tanganga, Sanchez,Dier and Reguilion were immense as city were unable to break the deadlock. They threw themselves on the floor every time the opponent tried to create space. At the end of the day, their hard work paid off as the team grabbed all three points as well as a clean sheet for Lloris.
In midfield Hojbjerg was a leader like always, he was all over the place screening the backline and breaking the opposition play. Alongside Hojbjerg, youngster Oliver Skipp and Dele did all the defensive duties to support defensive lines.
In absence of Harry Kane the attacking trio of Bergwijn, Son and Lucas looked dangerous as they attacked Ederson and his defenders with pace time and again. Bergwijn and Lucas were man of the match contenders as they were all over the pitch causing the opposition headache with their runs and pace. The only thing they lacked was the goal in their game.
Son continued his goal-scoring form against the blues as his goal proved to be decisive for the team. Our talisman in absence of Harry Kane looked sharp as he combined with Bergwijn and Lucas as we troubled the city in counter-attacks. He scored a beautiful goal past Ederson and celebrated in style in front of the returning fans.
Son who signed his contract extension with the club in the beginning of the season didn’t hide his emotion and love for the club and fans as he left the pitch, at last, applauding the fans.
After a long time the fans were back in full capacity and their return was electrifying, the stadium was covered in white as our fans were present with the flags. Throughout the whole game, they added fuel to the team performance and at the final whistle the stadium’s atmosphere was rocking as they applauded the team and the new manager.
They also poked club star Harry Kane whose future is still uncertain with the club with some chants. As the team was demonstrating an entertaining game they sang “Are you watching Harry Kane?” in counter to Manchester City fan’s “Harry Kane, he wants to be blue”.
The message from the fans through chant was loud and clear and Harry may have got it without any elaboration. Fans are always the backbone of the team and the first game of the season has already shown the importance of the fans.
The Tottenham way means thrilling, vibrant attacking form of football that delivers results as well as eye-catching performances. From the past it has been our identity but we lost that identity at end of the Pochettino era and an almost the whole era of Jose Mourinho. Yesterday in the first Premier League game of Nuno Espirito Santo The Tottenham Way was truly back.
From the first minute till the last the team was on the same energy level. Passion and grit was back on players which was lost for a season and a half. Every single player was dedicated and no soft side was seen as tackles were flying all over the opposition. Tackling, breaking opposition play, and attacking with an electrifying pace the fans enjoyed every single bit from yesterday’s performance.
Not only the fans and players, manager Nuno and his team were also pumped up as their tactics were spot on, with the return of the fans in the stadium the Tottenham way also returned. Fabio Paratici was true as he had convinced Levy in appointing Nuno highlighting that Nuno will bring free-flowing football to the club and we saw that in the opening game against Manchester City. We hope The Tottenham Way will follow throughout the whole season.
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