Tottenham Hotspur got back to winning ways, and while it did not mean anything competitively as the 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid only meant that the aggregate loss in the Champions League Round of 16 was 7-5, the way Spurs played means a lot to them going forwrd in a tense Premier League relegation battle that will only heat up this weekend against Nottingham Forest.
There were so many positives for the home crowd to take home with them, including a master class from Xavi Simons and more brilliance from the rising duo of Archie Gray and Mathys Tel. But the fine work of Callum Olusesi off the bench should not be lost in all this.
Tottenham manager Igor Tudor may only carry the interim label, but he has already made some bold calls that have paid dividends, showing far more faith in the talented youth at the N17 than the mercifully deposed Thomas Frank ever did.
Callum Olusesi is a real part of the Tottenham squad now
Integrating Olusesi into the first team has been the boldest of these calls, and the highly talented prospect has only rewarded the Italian coach immensely. Even though he only played 10 minutes, Olusesi proved he can hang with one of the best midfields in the world, and when you juxtapose his performances and composure with that of veteran Premier League center midfielder Conor Gallagher, it really stands out how good Olusesi is for where he is.
Johan Lange and Vinai Venkatesham have been blasted heavily by the media and even Spurs fans for the Igor Tudor appointment, but Tudor has done so well with Olusesi that this positive alone is a bit of a vindication for Lange, Vinai, and the rest of the office selecting Tudor, whose track record in world football has honestly been pretty underwhelming.
Tudor deserves massive plaudits for believing in Olusesi. His cameo appearance to see the game off against Atleti was gargantuan and a clear indication that he merits more minutes. Olusesi was confident, composed, and willing to drive the ball forward. His work rate and efficacy were double that of Gallagher's and many of the experienced midfielders who have come through the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the last few seasons.
Now, Tudor isn't going to last beyond the season, nor should Lange or Vinai be absolved of all their woeful errors just because Olusesi is looking good. But for all the negativity we've said about Tudor, Olusesi is a reminder to bring us all back to earth and remember that Tudor is actually doing some very good things for Spurs right now - much better than what Frank was doing before him.