Spurs player ratings from 3-0 win over Sheffield United
An outstanding ending to the 2023/24 Premier League season for Tottenham on the road, as the squad defeated an already relegated Sheffield United away from North London by a score of 3-0 on Sunday.
Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou's team had their faults at times, but the game was a good example of how 'Ange-ball' looks when all (or most) of the pieces are clicking. Let's discuss how the starters and their substitutes looked in the season finale.
GK - Guglielmo Vicario: 6/10. Not too much to grade for the Italian goalkeeper, as the back four, particularly Romero and Dragusin, kept him from getting too many looks. The home team Blades only notched six shots, with one of those on target. However, it looks as if "Venom" is sticking up for himself more on set pieces, a trend that needs to continue moving forward.
RB - Pedro Porro: 8/10. Almost a man of the match display from the Spaniard, as he scored Spurs' first goal of the second half. That gave the club a 2-0 lead that would be added onto by Kulusevski six minutes later. Excellent offensive display paired with solid defense. Great ending to the season for the starting right-back.
CB - Cristian Romero: 7/10. An impressive finish to the season for one of Spurs' vice-captains. The Argentinian international displayed a strong presence next to Dragusin at center-back and seemed determined to score a goal in the final match of the campaign. It wasn't meant to be, but not for lack of trying.
CB - Radu Dragusin: 6/10. Almost gifted Sheffield an opening goal in the early minutes with a wayward header but settled in nicely after that. Should get a lot more playing time next year after a summer under Postecoglou and his staff. The 21-year-old defender will look to continue his growth moving forward.
LB - Micky Van de Ven: 7/10. A strong showing at left back for the 22-year-old. Arguably Spurs' best player this season (he was named the club's player of the year by Spurs' Official Supporters Clubs), the Dutchman showed he can be effective arguably anywhere he's put by Postecoglou. What a signing, his future is almost blindingly bright.
CM - Rodrigo Bentancur: 6/10. Solid day on the pitch for Bentancur, who almost scored Spurs' first goal of the contest. Alas, it bounced off the post. However, it wasn't a bad omen unlike his similar luck against the Premier League champions Manchester City last Tuesday. Should be a big part of the midfield equation for Big Ange moving forward, along with Sarr.
CM - Pape Matar Sarr: 6/10. Another decent outing for the midfielder, as he continued to show why he's likely a key part of the future at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Sarr has already shown glimpses of becoming one of the Premier League's best box to box midfielders, if not world class. Let's see how he progresses moving forward.
CM - James Maddison: 7/10. It seems as if Maddison is almost finally back to normal, as the English national had a great outing Sunday. He assisted Kulusevski on the Swede's second goal of the match and showed the creative knack that helped lead The Lilywhites to their early season climb to the top of the Premier League table.
LW - Brennan Johnson: 6/10. A good outing from the young Welshman, as he should continue to improve the more he plays under Postecoglou. Snagged an assist to tie Son with the team lead in the category for the season with ten.
ST - Son Heung-min: 8/10. Another excellent display from Son, closing out his first season as Tottenham's captain in style. He led the team with 17 goals scored and tied Johnson with the club lead in assists (10). Although it seemed like he wasn't always at his best, Sunday's match was certainly one of his best performances of the season. Can't wait to see what Sonny does for an encore come next season.
RW - Dejan Kulusevski: 9/10 (MAN OF THE MATCH). An absolutely superb showing from the Swedish international to close the season. Responsible for Spurs' first and third goals (in the 14th and 65th minutes, respectively), Kulu almost had two more as well in the first half. The Blades had no answer for the winger, as he capitalized on a strong cameo performance in the loss to Manchester City this past Tuesday.
SUBSTITUTES
CM - Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg: 6/10. Replaced Sarr in the 66th minute after starting against Manchester City last Tuesday. Potentially on his way out of North London, the Danish international was arguably the team's hardest worker. If he does leave, he'll be missed.
RB - Emerson Royal: 6/10. Subbing for Porro in the 75th minute, Royal proved steady at right back in the match's closing minutes. Could potentially leave the club during the summer window, as multiple teams, led by AC Milan, are reportedly interested.
CM - Oliver Skipp: 6/10. Came on for Bentancur in the 75th minute and provided his usual energy and pace for the midfield. Excited to see how much the Englishman can provide the club with more football next season.
Mikey Moore and Dane Scarlett: N/A. Coming on in the 88th minute for Son (Scarlett) and Maddison (Moore), this was another cameo for two of Spurs' youngest and brightest starlets. Just another glimpse into the club's future, one that could be very bright indeed.