Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Was this the result when Roberto De Zerbi truly started to turn Tottenham's miserable decline around? Was this the performance when he discovered how to get the best out of his £185m midfield signings? Was this when his players' personality and motivation changed?
"Why not?" said De Zerbi after Tottenham's 2-0 win over Chelsea. It was a "different Tottenham", he said. "Not a different attitude.
Different relationships with the players, different group." Tottenham have been threatening to improve. They should have won at Manchester United. They beat Coventry at home as expected.
But this was a proper test albeit against a Chelsea side also finding their way under a new head coach. "Before Man Utd, we spoke a lot in a big, big meeting, removing the mask and speaking honestly, clearly in front of ourselves," said De Zerbi. "And from that moment, I think we changed something in ourselves.
"We want to improve, improve, improve, to be better game by game, week by week. I think we have suffered enough." From the moment Spurs changed ends at kick-off, a decision home fans groaned at, they had Chelsea where they wanted them despite the relentless wind and rain in their faces. Omar Marmoush's first-half miss threatened the same old story, but perhaps their luck is changing now too.
Mike Penders' error was a gift, but one that was deserved. Spurs will also argue a big decision went against them before the own goal, when Cole Palmer barged into Mateus Fernandes' head. Fernandes also delivered the corner that Penders punched in.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
