Changes Tottenham need for Champions League success

A first game triumph at cross-town rival West Ham provided a lift for Tottenham Hotspur, but more improvements are required for sustained success under Jose Mourinho.

The joy of three away points after such a barren spell on the road overshadowed the need for further changes if Spurs are going to get their season back on track. Luckily for the Lilywhites they are hosting a winnable Champions League game against Olympiacos on Tuesday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

If Spurs are to create a fortress-like environment at home under Jose Mourinho there are several things the team must address.

Movement in the attacking third

Dele has received praise following Saturday’s performance. However, his inspired performance was buoyed by Son Heung-Min’s dynamic movement. Dele made three terrific passes in the first half alone, two of which directly leading to goals. Again, his movement and others around him made all the difference.

Previously this season, Tottenham were increasingly static in the attacking third. After Spurs’ third goal we saw a return to pockets of stationary play, a big part of the reason West Ham got back into the game. That also has to do with a tiring Spurs side.

For whatever the reason, movement, offensively and defensively, vacated Tottenham earlier this season but was present for about sixty minutes against West Ham. Spurs must make those runs for a full 90 minutes, even if it means taking Harry Kane off the field.

An effective passing game

Along with dynamic movement, we should expect short, quick, crisp, direct passing, a staple of Jose Mourinho teams. While he doesn’t employ a style as regimented as Guardiola’s passing triangles, quick, direct passing is a big part of the Special One’s approach. Mixed in with those short passes is the cross-field switch, which will come from everywhere on the pitch.

Those short passes, mixed in with the cross-field long-balls, should complement movement from the attackers.

Getting more from Harry Kane

I’m not saying Harry Kane is out of form, because in truth he is bagging goals for both club and country, netting his 175th for club on the weekend following his three goals in two games for England.

That said, when was the last time we saw Kane go after a ball like Dele did on his pass to Son on the second goal?

While Kane presses and runs about, sometimes he lacks consistency in the engine room. There were at least two occasions where Dele could have picked Kane out had the talisman darted into a smart position. However, there is an argument for Kane picking his moments, conserving his energy for the opportune time to exploit defenders.

If Kane can no longer give a full 90 minute effort, Mourinho must find a perfect balance so his marksman can be most effective. Kane must lead by example and be the most spirited player on the field. Anything else is selling himself, and his teammates, short.

Getting in shape

Tottenham need more structure, shape and endurance. While Dier and Winks were serviceable against West Ham, I have doubts about that duo against Bayern Munich. Sissoko and Ndombele are not holding midfielders, and who knows if Victor Wanyama has played his lasts game at the club. The bottom line is that a consistent formation or two needs to be identified and employed.

After more than 94 straight games without the same lineup, a little consistency will go a long way.

The goals Spurs conceded in the last 20 minutes against West Ham was down to a lack of physical endurance. It was clear several Spurs players hit the wall at about the hour mark.

Sure, Dele and Dier haven’t been in the team a bunch, so they need time to return to full match fitness, but others like Kane and Alderweireld, who aren’t making the runs of years past, are either a bit out of shape or slightly weathered. Either way the problem needs to be addressed.

Not all this work will be accomplished against Olympiacos on Tuesday, but the team can start taking strides in the right direction. With 10 games, including Tuesday, from now until January 2, the training and development will occur as much in matches as it will on the training park. Let’s hope Mourinho can get his point across in an incredibly congested match schedule.