Christian Eriksen and Kevin Wimmer Reflect on Tottenham’s Loss
Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen and Kevin Wimmer spoke about their team’s performance following a loss against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
With Tottenham’s first loss in the Premier League over and done with, Christian Eriksen and Kevin Wimmer would speak to Spurs TV about what had just transpired.
The Danish midfielder who has been struggling for form lately was able to push Spurs ahead with a dazzling strike from 18 yards out, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute.
Christian Eriksen took a chance that paid off for him. Something that he has done throughout the year but says he has been unlucky to score. Or, that goalkeepers were having a good day.
“It’s been annoying but not frustrating.” Eriksen said on Spurs’ official website. “I’ve been unlucky with the ‘keepers having good days or missing at the last moment. I’ve been in good positions and it’s just about taking the chance.”
“I was in a good position and I took the chance and profited from it but it takes away from the glory when we end up losing. It makes it a different, bitter feeling.”
Indeed, to take an early lead once again for the second consecutive visit at Stamford Bridge, only to lose it throughout the course of the match — again — is a disappointing feeling.
Because for 44 minutes in the first half, Mauricio Pochettino’s side were the better team against an in-form Chelsea squad who were unbeaten in their last six league games.
A team who had conceded zero goals in 601 minutes while scoring 17 times in the process.
Seeing Tottenham manage to pin the hosts back on their heels was a very good sign to see. After getting knocked out of the Champions League, Spurs came to play and showed it to begin the match.
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It’s unfortunate though, that one of Spurs’ biggest issues this year is their inability to play for a full game. Consistently maintaining a high level is difficult, especially for this young team who is asked to high-press for a majority of a 90 minute match.
But playing only one half means a win or draw is not guaranteed. It’ll be a struggle.
So when Pedro equalized just before half-time, the wheels began to fall off. A culmination of mental errors that started to creep in and easing up cost them a huge lead on the road before eventually losing.
Once the second half began, Antonio Conte made tactical changes to have his team sit deeper, absorb pressure and go on a counterattack.
It’s the same strategy that has continued to nullify Spurs one too many times.
The remaining 45 minutes of the game is where this match turned around and it started with a poor defensive breakdown six minutes into the second half when Victor Moses scored after being completely left unmarked.
“We started very well in the first 44 minutes.” Eriksen said. “They had one chance in the first half and scored a goal which gave them confidence.”
“Our defending for the second goal, myself as well, we could have passed the second ball to a guy in a better position but that happens in a moment then you try to make up for it afterwards, but it wasn’t to be.”
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“It’s very frustrating all round but we have to pick ourselves up and we have time to prepare ourselves for Swansea [City] next weekend.”
This is true, the defending was not very good.
Blame could be pinned on two people: Son Heung-Min and Kevin Wimmer. Everyone is asked to defend in Pochettino’s team, so to see Victor Moses be left all by himself with Son not making much of an effort to stop him meant this wouldn’t end well.
Wimmer who was being played out of position at left-back (not sure why), instinctively drifted inside to help Jan Vertonghen because he’s a center-back by trade. Staying central is natural for him.
That decision by the Austrian defender left plenty of space for Moses to time his run properly and be on the receiving end of a Diego Costa cross.
Asked what was it like to get a start at left-back, Wimmer spoke of how he always tries to give it his all every time he plays.
“The gaffer spoke to me in the last few training sessions and it’s a good feeling when the manager speaks to you and you feel he trusts you in such an important game like Chelsea away.” Kevin Wimmer said.
“It would be better if we won, of course. I had an unlucky game against Arsenal with the own goal but I always try to put in good performances to help the team, always give my best and try to improve.”
If Wimmer’s own goal against Arsenal hurt Spurs’ chances of winning at the Emirates, then his part in having a defensive breakdown against Chelsea ended up costing Tottenham a draw at Stamford Bridge.
Still, the Austrian defender remains positive in light of his two errors during two London derbies — not a very good look for a player who has seen only five total appearances this season.
“We showed we have confidence, that we believe in ourselves and after a difficult few weeks, we played good football” Kevin Wimmer added. “We have to keep our heads up and continue like this, Swansea is a very important game for us. If we can get three points perhaps we can start a new run. We have to stay positive.”
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Mental errors are starting to rear its ugly head it seems. As soon as Spurs can reduce this — it’s almost impossible to completely eliminate it — they could start seeing more wins than draws.
Against a Swansea side who is second-to-last in the Premier League, this would be a good opportunity to get three points. Of course, the Swans won’t make it easy so Tottenham must still be on their A-game to secure a win.