This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said three key words after being asked about his side’s improved pressing following their 5-0 win against Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday night – “I want more”.
What did he say then?
Well, Spurs’ energy and work-rate all across the pitch was evident in their Champions League fixture against the Serbian club, and it begged the question why similar hadn’t been seen in recent weeks in disappointing performances against the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion and Watford.
Asked about the change in intensity by Football London’s Alasdair Gold post-match, the Argentine responded:
These are certainly some words that should provide a lot of encouragement for Spurs supporters.
Change of fortunes?
While it’s clear to see that Red Star weren’t the highest level of opposition Tottenham could have been facing given their lack of confidence going into the encounter, they still absolutely blew them away in the capital on Tuesday.
The likes of Son Heung-min and Erik Lamela pressed from the front, and helped influence a whole team display that the visitors simply couldn’t cope with.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium faithful would have been impressed with what they saw from their side, as there was certainly shades of the same tactics used back in the days when they finished second in the Premier League in 2017, for example.
The fact that Pochettino wants even more from this group of players is exciting too, as it suggests the former Southampton boss feels his squad has a lot more to give in that respect.
If they can beat Red Star 5-0, imagine how dominant they could be when they are at an even higher level when it comes to their fitness and pressing?
