Tottenham Hotspur Showing Encouraging Depth Despite ICC Loss to Atletico Madrid

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Updated: July 29, 2016

“I think that we need to improve our squad,” Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino said in his final pre-match press conference of the 2015-16 season. “This is very clear with me, our supporters, our players, our squad—I think we are all agreeing that we need to improve.”

Pochettino went on to talk about the greater balance his playing staff would need for them to handle domestic demands and their return to the Champions League. The manager described the latter as “a different level” to the Europa League football they had played most commonly in recent years.

Friday’s 1-0 International Champions Cup loss to Atletico Madrid was Tottenham’s second pre-season taster in a week of the kind of opposition they will need to raise their games for. After a rustier, nervier showing in the 2-1 defeat by Juventus, this was a more encouraging demonstration of their depth for the year ahead.

Evaluating their options right now is tricky.

Players involved in Euro 2016—Toby Alderweireld, Dele Alli, Ben Davies, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Harry Kane, Hugo Lloris, Danny Rose, Jan Vertonghen, Kyle Walker and Kevin Wimmer—were not ready for the trip to Australia to participate in the ICC.

All bar Wimmer were regular starters last season. Without evidence from friendlies to suggest otherwise, the assumption is those places will predominantly be theirs to lose (mid-season cover for Vertonghen last season, Wimmer may get an early shot to start if the currently injured Belgian does not recover in time).

Pochettino has also said Down Under, per Sky Sports’ Ed Hutson, “I expect some signings in the next few weeks, we will see what happens but I expect some activity.”

The Atletico game showed even without these names, known and as yet unidentified, the strength that carried Spurs to third place last season should not be completely dismissed or forgotten. With a cadre of promising youngsters also looking to do more than just supplement them, Pochettino will have some tough calls to make deciding who will make up his squad.

Both of Spurs’ summer recruits so far, Vincent Janssen and Victor Wanyama, started again versus Atletico Madrid.

The striker had a more enjoyable time of things than three days prior. Starved of the ball in the first-half then, Friday’s attacking midfield ensured he was more happily involved for the duration of his 75 minutes.

Erik Lamela was a particularly frequent collaborator for the Dutchman as the new man dropped deep and looked to maintain possession at the channel entry points, his control looking far surer here too. One lofted pass in a give-and-go set the Argentinian up for a shot that hit the post.

Though penalty box opportunities were limited (Josh Onomah beat him to one, firing against the crossbar), Janssen continued to provide a mobile, reliable target. Taking one Kieran Trippier pass, his strength and awareness setting up Heung-min Son to tee up a Ryan Mason half-volley was excellent. Jan Oblak saved that shot well and also stopped a later low and precisely struck free-kick from Spurs’ frontman.

The good intent showed by Janssen in his introduction has already clarified things up front to a certain degree.

He will have to prove himself as a viable marksman at Premier League and Champions League levels, of course. But his willing engagement of and admirable resistance to one of Europe’s best defences added to the hope his new team have landed a good alternative to the similarly industrious Kane.

Those positions that lie behind on the pitch feel a lot more uncertain.

Lamela’s looking lively again, relishing the involvement afforded him his central role, bodes well for another focused and potentially even better campaign from the previously maligned attacker.

Christian Eriksen missed Juventus through illness and …

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