Dier’s Words Further Evidence of Changes Afoot at Tottenham
By Aaron Coe
Eric Dier gave an interview following the Manchester City match echoing the sentiments of his coach regarding the need for Tottenham to focus and do better.
In the sports world, you can tell when a team is all working on the same page on and off the field. On the field it comes through the fluidity of the play and the results that follow. Off the field, you know a team is working collectively when their interviews start to sound the same with everyone saying the same thing. Based on what we got from Eric Dier postgame at Manchester City, that is what Tottenham are now, a team where everyone sings the same tune.
At Tottenham the Job is Never Done
The message from Eric Dier was simple, so simple in fact he was trying hard not to laugh as he said it. In response to his very first question he was asked Dier noted that the team “played well in the sense that we followed the plan” but that Spurs can always “do better”. It is this idea of always improving that has Tottenham moving like a team and singing Jose Mourinho’s tune.
If you continue to listen to Dier he even apologizes for sounding cliché but he notes whenever you are playing football there are “small margins” and you have to “stay focused” and “not switch off”. This is especially true when playing teams like Manchester City, who can make you pay for any kind of lapse in concentration. Maintaining that concentration is particularly important for the defense, according to Dier, because he “always believes we are going to score goals” with an offense that can be “ruthless” in those moments like they were against City.
This belief that the team will score can drive the defense, just like a belief that a defense can stop an opponent can drive an offense. Ultimately, Dier is insinuating that at this point Tottenham players are in it for each other noting that “everyone has to be ready”, because the team has “bigger goals than individual needs”. This is exactly what every coach wants to hear from his or her players.
Juxtapose this desire to win and to fight for each other collectively with the Tottenham team of a year ago. A year ago, there was a lot of the turmoil surrounding players wanting out of the squad and the discord was felt throughout the team and club. Sure, Tottenham still have players that may want to or even need to leave, but that is not what we are hearing or are talking about. Instead, it is about the game at hand because that is all that matters.
The game at hand is why when asked about the schedule ahead Dier acknowledged, that yes, it is a “huge month, with very difficult games” but Spurs were going to “stay focused and work toward Thursday.” Because while, Tottenham have some tough games coming they can only play them and win them one at a time, which is exactly how Jose Mourinho wants it.