Tottenham’s Season in Ten Matches
By Ryan Wrenn
Tottenham 2 – 1 Anderlecht, November 5th
Losses to United in the Premier League and Arsenal in the Capital One Cup weren’t great, but they also weren’t terrible. The former came from a Kyle Walker own-goal and could have just as easily broken Tottenham’s way, the latter was the clear result of fielding a weaker side for a lesser competition.
The 2-1 loss to Anderlecht in late October felt like something different. No, Europa League wasn’t the top priority of this campaign, but it was a competition that Pochettino was taking more seriously. The lackadaisical manner in which the Tottenham team Pochettino named suffered at the hands of the Belgians suggested that something was still not right either mentally or physically with this squad.
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Moreover, it also showed for the first time this season that Tottenham were vulnerable to some of the same tactics they employed — high pressing, quick transitions, etc. Anderlecht used them all to win and prevent Tottenham from finding a way back into the match.
Kane led the aforementioned 5-1 mauling of Bournemouth days after that result, but the true redemption would come a week and a half later when Tottenham hosted Anderlecht in the reverse fixture.
The Belgians looked as determined as they did two weeks prior, though Kane broke through in the 28th minute. It was clear that whatever was holding Tottenham’s squad back had evaporated, and they were in it to win this match.
Anderlecht leveled in the second half, but substitute Mousa Dembélé came back to punish his Belgian brethren. He’s never been known for his goals, but here he sent one from outside Anderlecht’s box and passed the keeper to give Tottenham the lead in the 86th minute.
It was a thrilling conclusion to the match and showed that Tottenham were not short in character, even when they occasionally faltered.
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