It is rare for the nature of a team to change to such an extent, in such a short period of time. While Tottenham travels this Sunday to their best enemy Arsenal, counting the same number of points (13) as them, it should be remembered that Spurs had concluded the 2022-2023 Premier League financial year in 8th place, by developing a cautious, even passive, game.
However, under the rule of their new manager, the Australian Ange Postecoglou, they now display an offensive face and demonstrate a capacity for reaction that we did not know about them, like this success against Sheffield United on the weekend. -last end (2-1), thanks to Richarlison, who entered the game in the 80th, author of the equalizer with a header (1-1, 90th +8), then decisive passer on Dejan Kulusevski’s victorious goal (2 -1, 90th +10).
“The most important thing remains his contribution to the balance of the team and in this area, he is good”
Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham coach
The Brazilian striker perfectly embodies the revolution in progress, since last season, following his costly transfer from Everton (€70 million), he only scored one goal in the Championship (in 27 appearances , half of them at the winger position), remaining in the shadow of Harry Kane.
Since then, the latter has left for Bayern and Postecoglou, renowned for his rational intelligence, has done everything to put Richarlison in the best conditions, by starting him in the first three Premier League matches in his preferred position of center forward. And even if the former Toffee did not score, the Australian constantly spoke positively about him, declaring for example on August 25: “The most important thing remains his contribution to the balance of the team and in This area is good. »
Which did not prevent, three weeks later, the Seleçao scorer, after Peru-Brazil (0-1, September 13), from telling the newspaper O Globo of his psychological suffering due to extra-personal problems. athletes, because of “people who only had eyes for (his) money”. An admission which had provoked a reaction full of compassion from Postecoglou, the day before the match against Sheffield: “Sometimes we look at footballers and we say to ourselves that they have all the money they need and that they lead a life perfect. But in reality, all players face problems. »
The next day, Richarlison therefore responded on the pitch to the coach’s unconditional support and he appears today as one of the main offensive assets of Spurs, as noted this week by former striker Alan Shearer in the podcast The rest is football: “We could see a different player and a different man from now on, because this goal against Sheffield undoubtedly freed him. »
