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Keys to success for Tottenham at Rennes in Conference League opener

By Aaron Coe

Aston Villa's Scottish midfielder John McGinn (L) tackles Tottenham Hotspur's French midfielder Tanguy Ndombele (C) during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on March 21, 2021. Photo by TIM KEETON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Aston Villa's Scottish midfielder John McGinn (L) tackles Tottenham Hotspur's French midfielder Tanguy Ndombele (C) during the English Premier League football match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England on March 21, 2021. Photo by TIM KEETON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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: Lucas Moura of Tottenham Hotspur and Vitorino Antunes of Pacos De Ferreira in action during the UEFA Conference League Play-Offs Leg Two
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 26: Lucas Moura of Tottenham Hotspur and Vitorino Antunes of Pacos De Ferreira in action during the UEFA Conference League Play-Offs Leg Two match between Tottenham Hotspur and Pacos de Ferreira on August 26, 2021, in London, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images) /

Tottenham needs to create turnovers and attack in transition

A big part of the Rennes game is dribbling and attacking the dribble. If there is one thing Tottenham fans know about people that like to dribble, whether it is Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela, or Adama Traore, they are going to lose their fair share of the possession.

Rennes has good consistency in the heart of the defense, however, they have not found that same consistency on offense. The Reindeer are successful at dribbling, however, they have averaged being dispossessed of the ball 10 times per match in Ligue 1 this season.

When Tottenham was successful early in the season against Manchester City and Wolves, they did a good job of turning the ball over and attacking in transition. It is the ability to recover the ball in the attacking third and middle third that most allows the defense to rest and recover. Tottenham has to do a good job of tackling dribbles and stepping into passing lanes as Rennes tends to overpass the ball.

The more success the Spurs have with recovering the ball through tackles and interceptions the less likely Rennes will become to even attempt those things as they want to keep possession and in their mind control of the game. However, if Tottenham can turn them over enough to get their game to be passive, then the opportunities to counter and eventually take control of the match will be there.