Keys to success for Tottenham at Rennes in Conference League opener

Tottenham need to feel the urgency and take the opportunity

For Tottenham Hotspur, Thursday’s game in France is a real opportunity. With the injuries and absences within the team, someone, anyone, has the opportunity to step up. While a draw or even a loss is not the end of the world in a six-game bracket, Tottenham does not want to face Chelsea Sunday having lost twice in a row to inferior teams.

Ultimately, the game really is important. It is important for the funding of the club, they receive nothing extra for a loss but over €500,000 with a win. It is important for confidence, which we know is critical. Most of all it is an opportunity for again someone, anyone, to actually create a role for himself in the team.

Someone has to step up for the Spurs

Whether it is Dane Scarlett scoring or Tanguy Ndombele playing solid box-to-box or Bryan Gil creating chances, the reality is, there are few positions on the Spurs team that are locked down. Kane and Son are starters, in this current set-up they are the only guarantees, particularly with Pierre Hojbjerg playing as a number eight and not a number six.

The point is, every game is an opportunity, but this game, in particular, is a big opportunity. It is on the European stage – the third tier or not it is Europe. Additionally, the Spurs are coming off a bad loss, so getting that taste out of their mouths is vitally important. Most importantly for the players, if a player does bust out and has a huge match on Thursday, it may be hard to keep him out of the team on Sunday.

Spurs fans everywhere are waiting for someone to step up if they are going to leave France with any, let alone three points.  However, if Tottenham can push back enough to not get pinned in defensively, attack with vigor on the counter, and have someone step up and star, they can leave France with three points.