Poor performances humiliated Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In last season’s competition, after two games, Spurs were down and out. They defied all of the odds to reach the final. This is a different Tottenham Hotspur – a team devoid of character and lacking any effort. Bayern Munich were the victors with a 7-2 thrashing but that only tells a small part of what was an utter capitulation from Mauricio Pochettino’s men.
Poor Tottenham Performances Give Bayern Walk in the Park
Bayern Munich Stroll Past Spurs
Only Bill Nicholson has managed Tottenham Hotspur in more European games than Mauricio Pochetttino. A mediocre start to the season for Spurs was tempered by a gritty 2-1 win with only ten men in the Premier League at the weekend against Southampton.
Against Bayern Munich, Tottenham were poor. Son Heung-min gave Tottenham the lead on 11 minutes but that proved to be a false dawn. A matter of three minutes later and Bayern were level through Joshua Kimmich. It was a fine strike but the amount of space he had should have sent alarm bells ringing. It didn’t.
Lack of Pressing
Under Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham have pressed high up the pitch, not giving their opponents any rest at all. Against Bayern, Tottenham looked tired, disinterested and lost.
Serge Gnabry grabbed four goals without a sniff of a challenge around him. When Robert Lewandowski scored his first, Tottenham players fell over each other in the box and despite it being a slick turn and goal, the defending was schoolboy stuff. It was just far too easy for Bayern Munich all over the pitch.
Heads Down
Harry Kane fired home his penalty to make the score 4-2 and give some hope. By this stage Tottenham had long given up any fight. Pochettino looked dejected on the touchline, slumped in his chair. The players didn’t even look to be angry with each other. The lack of passion and the way the players heads dropped has to be a cause of concern ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.
The fact that Munich ended up with seven was hardly surprising. Tottenham were booed off at the end of the game and rightly so.
Pochettino’s Post Match Press Conference
Mauricio Pochettino has said that everyone needs to stay calm:
“Now it’s a moment to stay all together. We cannot talk now. Today is a moment where we know how we feel, all disappointed. The feelings are not so good. Now is a moment to be calm. After a result like today, there will be no shouting or talking when the emotion is on the skin.”
Poor Tottenham Hotspur Performances Must be Addressed
Maurico Pochettino has tried to sugar coat this capitulation from his players but he cannot continue to do so. Too many players are not pulling their weight and there was little tonight to suggest any togetherness amongst the squad.
Pochettino can dress up the ‘new project’ in whatever way he may choose, but the fact is startling and clear – Tottenham Hotspur have started to go backwards, and with very little to choose from to change things, Pochettino has his work cut out to win anything this season. The stark reality is that it could be six seasons with no trophies. Nearly 20 years with just one trophy.
That is not to underestimate the incredible progress Tottenham have made under him. That can never be taken away from the Argentine. Now he has perhaps the greatest challenge of his time at the club: to refocus his players – the problem being that some look like they have long left the door and that is something that even the greatest managers have struggled to deal with.
Player Ratings – Tottenham Hotspur
Hugo Lloris – 7. Little he could do for most of the goals as he was left exposed.
Serge Aurier – 2. Could have been sent off after nine minutes. Gnabry ran him ragged and showed why Spurs were looking to sell him in the summer.
Toby Alderweireld – 6. Cut a frustrated figure but looked like he was still trying.
Jan Vertonghen – 6. Struggled due to the poor performances of the full-backs and was left exposed time and time again.
Danny Rose- 3. Won the penalty but overall had a bad night. Slow and sluggish.
Harry Winks – 3. Surely one of his worst performances in a Spurs shirt. Was caught with the ball time and time again and needs to work much harder.
Moussa Sissoko- 6. Covered a lot of ground in the first half and played a lovely ball for Son’s goal. Needs to learn how to shoot, though.
Tanguy Ndombele– 5. Played some nice passes in the first half but seems to tire very easily.
Son Heung-min – 7. The one player along with Kane that worked hard. Great goal and deserves better from those around him.
Harry Kane – 7. Worked hard but was frustrated by those around him. Walked straight off after the game and a sign of the possible unrest amongst the dressing room.
Dele Alli – 3. Sadly another poor night for the young man. Clearly low on confidence and offered very little.
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