Tottenham Hotspur had a nightmare performance at Elland Road on Saturday, losing 1-0 to Leeds United to break up a three game winning streak. By far the biggest turning point of the match was an incident in which Jayden Bogle of Leeds tackled Mathys Tel on the Achilles studs up and somehow escaped a booking for a dangerous red card challenge that has otherwise been consistently booked that way in the Premier League and in other European leagues. Their most dangerous forward this season, Tel had to leave the pitch injured, and Spurs completely unraveled thereafter.
Spurs were totally toothless once Tel left the game. It wasn't like they were playing all that great when he did play, and he wasn't even half as sharp as he was in his monstrous performances against Chelsea and Crystal Palace the previous two weeks.
However, there was a clear difference in how Tottenham moved the ball and how many shots they got off on the goal as a team with and without Tel. Once Tel left the pitch, Tottenham fans began to see another part of Tel's game that is missed badly when he doesn't play, even in games where he is frustartingly inconsistent and not as sharp on the ball.
Mathys Tel always tries for Spurs
Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush were terrible at receiving the ball, taking it up the pitch, and making something happen with it. And they were also not good enough at dropping deep and helping the midfielders get an option.
Mathys Tel, even in the disastrous loss to Leeds United, never stopped coming back to the ball for his Tottenham Hotspur teammates. The young Frenchman was always looking to take the initiative by getting open, receive the ball, and try to turn it up the pitch to create a transition opportunity.
It matters so much against a team like Leeds that is suffocating your midfielders to have a player like Tel who is willing to come back to the ball and do something with it. Tel tried to relieve pressure, and when he left and it was on Dominic Solanke and Omar Marmoush to do the same, they honestly didn't even try. Marmoush lost the ball so many times it was impossible to count, while Solanke crumbled and fell like he was made of paper machet when he did receive the ball. Spurs are realizing that they have been taking Tel for granted when they see what the others are doing by comparison.
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