Combative Tottenham Hotspur Are Ready to Fight Again After Thrashing Inter Milan

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Updated: August 6, 2016

The August sun shone as Tottenham Hotspur impressively defeated their prestigious Italian pre-season opposition. Their Spanish-speaking boss looked on encouraged—one of his new signings had scored and the others too looked to be integrating well with the talented players already at the club.

Tottenham’s 5-0 win over Roma in August 2008 excitingly concluded unbeaten preparations for the year ahead. Yet, just over two months later, their manager Juande Ramos was sacked and the team sat bottom of the Premier League, winless.

That summer should be an eternal reminder to Tottenham supporters that all pre-season results, good or bad, should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Nevertheless, for Mauricio Pochettino, his side’s 6-1 thrashing of Internazionale on Friday—also swap Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadion for White Hart Lane and Vincent Janssen for David Bentley as the scoring new recruit—was noteworthy enough in its execution to pique serious interest in them heading into next weekend’s opener against Everton (Bleacher Report and “Leonardo Di Caprio’s” reaction below).

#ThatMomentWhen you hear Spurs just thrashed Inter Milan 6-1 in a pre-season friendly… pic.twitter.com/PEUgIQpEf5

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) August 5, 2016

Unlike in 2008, Tottenham are in a more stable position.

While Ramos’ side were coming off a League Cup success, they finished that season poorly and also ended the transfer window without two of their best players, Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane. The summer’s still-expensive recruitment drive left them short in attack and also failed to replace less glamorous but valuable efficient performers let go such as Steed Malbranque and Teemu Tainio.

In the present, Pochettino’s Tottenham are coming off a much stronger campaign, albeit one that ended in disappointing fashion. They are unlikely to lose anyone they do not want to from their squad either, star names or role players.

That is one of the benefits of mounting a title challenge and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

The latter was barely given a thought in the midst of the former. Now the return to the competition beckons, excitement is increasing at the prospect of this Spurs team pitting itself against some of European football’s elite again.

This friendly against Inter Milan naturally brought up memories of the north London club’s encounters with the then-reigning champions back in the 2010-11 tournament’s group stage. Gareth Bale’s reputation-enhancing displays in the 4-3 San Siro loss and the 3-1 win at White Hart Lane are still rightly recognised as some of the finest seen in a Lilywhite shirt (see below).

Good morning. Ahead of tomorrow’s game in Oslo, #ThrowbackThursday to some of our past meetings with @Inter… #COYS pic.twitter.com/KnNpD06fVV

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 4, 2016

Should they tap into the same vein of combativeness they utilised to dispatch the current Nerazzurri crop, Spurs may be set to create more fondly recalled memories, both in domestic and European competition.

Of course, the north Londoners playing this way is not a new development.

Striving to impose their will on the opposition was integral to their progression last season. The essential argument being proactive nearly always increases your chances of winning more than being reactive does.

It is not a flawless approach.

It manifested in ugly fashion against Chelsea in May, provocations from the imminently deposed champions transforming Spurs’ aggressive focus into reckless and counter-productive fouling.

There were examples on Friday of the risks closing down and attacking in numbers can create. Ivan Perisic’s equaliser partly resulted from Erik Lamela leaving space behind him on the right flank when Dele Alli lost the ball.

23: IVAN #PERISIC! @Ever10Banega sends the Croat away and he fires across Vorm to level the scores! #SpursInter 1-1 #InterSummerTour

— F.C. Internazionale (@Inter_en) August 5, 2016

Mostly, though, it is evocative of the famous quote and unofficial club philosophy from legendary Tottenham captain Danny Blanchflower, of “about doing things in style and with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com

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