Three positives from thrilling 3-2 win that bode well for Tottenham

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Tottenham Hotspur’s Dutch midfielder Steven Bergwijn celebrates scoring his team’s third goal past Leicester City’s Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on January 19, 2022. – RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Geoff Caddick / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK/AFP via Getty Images) /

2. A new-found knack for winning at the death

Winning at the death is a hallmark of champions. Even though they illogically and consistently were gifted an inordinate amount of injury time, Fergie’s Manchester United were renowned for last-gasp winners. Manchester City, via Sergio Agüero‘s famous goal against QPR in 2011-2012, won the Premier thanks to a stoppage time winner.

To be clear, I’m not by any stretch of the neocortex and thalamus (from what Google says, those are the parts of the brain responsible for imagination), saying that Spurs are an elite team vying for a Premier League team. Not yet, anyway. But at least they are, under Conte’s wizard-like stewardship, adopting a champion’s trait. Even more impressively, it’s one of the hardest to espouse.

Spurs not only scored one stoppage time goal to earn a share of the spoils, they bagged a second in added time to secure all three points. It was the second time in as many league matches Tottenham snatched all three points in Fergie time. Davinson Sanchez headed home against Wolves in injury time on New Year’s Day. Exhibit A and B prove this new-found knack for winning at the death is not a flash in the pan.

It shows that Conte has instilled an unwavering sense of belief into his new side. It also shows how receptive the lads are to Conte’s guidance. And it bodes extremely well for Spurs, who, with some help from incoming players on the open market, have the manager to lift them to eminent heights. Now it’s up to the ownership group to unconditionally back him.

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