Tottenham, on the couch

In the worst possible environment and in the midst of a mental crisis, due to his poor results in the Premier League, the unbreakable faith of Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham’s Australian coach finally had a great prize. The impressive performance of ‘Spurs’ on a colorful Wednesday night, in north London, earned them victory in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup against Liverpool (1-0) and showed once again their change and unpredictability that character, the hallmark of a club that for years has been fighting against itself and against that irregularity that prevents it from aiming for titles.

Postecoglou He arrived in London a year and a half ago to change the dynamic of the club, give ‘Spurs’ their own style and rediscover the path to winning again. Wednesday night will remain engraved in the fans of the ‘lilywhites’ as a reference for the future because, despite unexpected defeats this year that put Tottenham far from the top positions in the Premier, they got all the their best in his team: character, aggressiveness, courage and young talents to be excited about.

It is not easy to forget that 1-0 against some knocked out ‘reds’, in a frenzied Spurs Stadium, which saw, just two weeks ago, how the same challenger Liverpool mercilessly humiliated them in Premier (3-6) with another upset result.

This time, the leader of the English league was justly defeated by a changed Tottenham, brave, unshakable and with three young people as front pillars: the debutant Czech goalkeeper, Antonin Kinsky21, the English defender Archie Gray (18) and the Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall (18), the goal scorer in a thrilling victory over the ‘reds’. The three took it upon themselves to build a team that had been decimated by casualties and injuries, and where Postecoglou He tried to psyche himself up so that he wouldn’t fall, when everything was against him. Three youngsters supported Tottenham.

Kinsky, a dream debut

Although tarnished by the effects of recent defeats, Postecoglou He has great faith in the future of his young players, for whom he has put his reputation on the line. No wonder he joked, after the victory over Liverpool, that he wouldn’t be “happy” if he wasn’t there to see the true fruits of these three talents in the years to come. Bergvall18 years old, in midfield, and Archie Grayas central, due to the losses of Rosemary and Micki van de Venthey are very good.

But it was the Czech goalkeeper Antonin Kinskysigned for damages Vicar and Fraster Forsterwhere all the pressure fell. Kinsky He is played with defiant poise and personality. He kept a clean sheet for the first time in six games, but impressed with his composure on his first day at the Spurs Stadium, a dream debut.

Postecoglou ventured through the alignment Kinsky after only two training sessions following his immediate joining from Slavia Prague on Sunday, but it paid off. “I gave him a big task today,” acknowledged the coach after the game. The distribution of the ball Kinsky was good, but it was his reflexes that impressed the ‘North London’ fans, especially with a shot from Darwin Nunezwhere Kinsky He responded with a spectacular handball, denying Liverpool a tie.

For his part, Bergvallan attacking midfielder that Barça also wanted to sign, scored a goal in the 86th minute with a brilliant shot and did so in a unique playmaker role, after the Uruguayan. Rodrigo Bentancur He collapsed at the beginning of the game and had to be replaced.

His move to the farm was not surprising as in Archie Gray signed from Leeds United as a versatile midfielder, but who Postecoglou will have to be asked to play center back during injuries Romero, van de Ven and Ben Davies. His other performance suggested ‘Spurs’ have a star in the making.

Press Daniel Levy

All that good news and the value of the victory was different from what was experienced before the match at White Hart Lane. Spurs supporters’ groups have loudly called for the resignation of the president and co-owner of the High Road club, Daniel Levy and at the Spurs Stadium itself, the most luxurious stadium in the Premier League, a reflection of the club’s excellent marketing, they displayed banners and balloons with the motto ‘Levy out’, demanding further investment in signings.

The technician is also censored, in part. Ange Postecoglou for their non-negotiable willingness to play with an advanced defense and high risk, despite the fact that the team cannot leave the central zone of the Premier. “I think I’ve been a little bit more patient. “If people want me to change my approach, I won’t,” replied the defiant Australian.

During those 18 months Postecoglou led the team, Tottenham’s Premier League games averaged 3.6 goals per game, the highest of any manager who managed 50 or more games. Tottenham guarantee the show, but the fans also demand victories. “I’ve seen real growth in the players, which our results have hidden.

The path to success is easier when we are all aligned,” said the firm and idealistic Tottenham coach, who is convinced to return Tottenham to the path of titles. The last one was won in 2008. Because ‘Spurs’ are permanently sitting on the couch of psychoanalysis, because of their constant ups and downs and lack of success, the possibility of now reaching, with young players, the final of the EFL Cup has generated an unexpected optimism, at a time of strange and this is a difficult year.