Tottenham comeback showcased invaluable intangible Ange has cultivated

Tottenham secured the latest comeback win in Premier League history on Saturday, showcasing the ability, like all elite championship-winning sides, to win at the death despite not being at their best. 

It’s a trait that was missing from previous Tottenham teams. The ability to come back from a late deficit and win in injury time is an invaluable intangible usually reserved for top-tier teams with championship-winning caliber.

We mustn’t get too far ahead of ourselves, but the character and fight-to-the-death spirit Ange’s side showed against Sheffield United was equally inspiring and impressive.

During their golden years, Manchester United was renowned for snatching victory at the death from the jaws of defeat. Thanks to the regularity in which United found a way to turn a result on its head late, Fergie Time materialized.

Again, one match doesn’t constitute enough sample size to put Tottenham into that category. Also, people, especially Arsenal supporters, will belittle the accomplishment, pointing to the fact that it happened against an inferior, at least on paper, newly promoted side.

However, Ange should be immeasurably proud of instilling the belief, drive, and never-say-quit attitude that spurred Spurs on to the Premier League’s latest-ever comeback victory.

It helps that the referees now account for each wasted minute, which facilitated 12 minutes of injury time.

Tottenham pulled off the improbable victory without playing their best, making it even more impressive.

While the home side dominated possession, something we’ve thankfully become accustomed to with Ange at the helm, Spurs were not at their best.

Scoring two goals in as many minutes deep into stoppage time (98th minute and 100th minute) to complete the comeback certainly won’t happen often. But for it to occur even once, less than three months after Ange was appointed, is a testament to the feel-good mantra within the locker room.

The entire roster is pulling in the same direction. Collective belief and confidence are at an all-time high, two intangibles that aren’t easy to come by, nor is winning a match so deep into second-half injury time.

While Ange will credit his players for pulling off the astonishing feat (and so he should), the gaffer deserves the plaudits for creating a winning, tight-knit culture in just over three months on the job.

That is even more remarkable than yesterday’s wondrous two minutes deep into Fergie time. Maybe one day, at least in N17, we’ll refer to it as Ange time.