What a week. A high-scoring, entertaining, exciting week. Well, at least from my view as a Tottenham supporter.
After a controversial ending to last week Sunday versus Newcastle that changed a win into a draw, the next week figured to be difficult. Three games in seven days; Chelsea in the Carabao Cup, Maccabi Haifa in the Europa League, and Manchester United away in the league on Sunday, meant squad rotation and prioritizing the matches was inevitable.
Facing Chelsea on Tuesday in the Carabao Cup Round of 16, even an optimistic fan thought a loss was the most likely outcome. It seemed as though it was a sure thing when new Chelsea signing Timo Werner scored in the 19th minute and the team dominated possession throughout the first half that Tottenham’s cup run was ending before it even started. After the break though, the game turned in the other direction, with Spurs having the majority of meaningful possession, creating chances until Erik Lamela equalized in the 83rd minute. Both teams held firm until the final whistle, sending the match to a penalty shootout. Both teams were even through four spot-kicks, with Harry Kane giving the squad a 5-4 advantage on the next attempt. Mason Mount stepped up looking to tie things up for Chelsea, but sent the kick off the outside of the left post, securing Spurs place in the quarterfinals of the competition while avenging a semifinal loss to Chelsea on penalties in the 2019 tournament.
A big win over a rival was a great way to start a loaded week, with Israeli side Maccabi Haifa at home on Thursday in a Europa League playoff match to determine a group stage spot for the competition. After 2-1 and 3-1 victories in the previous two rounds against sides from Bulgaria and North Macedonia, a win over Haifa was a must or Spurs were out before the main stage of the tournament began.
Tottenham came out firing on all cylinders, with Kane grabbing a goal in just the second minute of play. It seemed as though they would cruise to an easy victory, but a wonder goal by Maccabi Haifa’s Tjarron Chery evened the match at 1-1 in the 17th minute. It might have been a wake-up call of sorts for Spurs, with Lucas Moura putting them back on top three minutes later via a header off a corner kick. It was all Tottenham from there on out, with Giovani Lo Celso bagging a brace to increase the lead to 4-1 heading into the half. A penalty kick for Haifa brought the score to 4-2 before Harry Kane added two goals to complete a hat trick, while second-half sub Dele Alli drew a penalty and converted the shot that followed in injury time to complete the 7-2 thrashing and book a group stage spot in the Europa League.
Not only was the game thrilling for Spurs’ supporters, but the Europa League group draw the following day set up a likely finish atop the group and advancement to the knockout rounds. The club will face Ludogorets – the defending Bulgarian League winners – as well as LASK of Austria and Belgian club Royal Antwerp twice each (home and away) to determine spots in the next stage of the competition. The favorable group for Tottenham helps the team remain as one of the favorites to take home the Europa League title.
As if the first two matches and group stage draw (as well as transfer signings) weren’t enough to make Spurs’ fans happy, the match away at Manchester United provided a thrilling end to the most memorable week in the early part of the campaign.
The game did not get off to a great start, with Tottenham committing a foul inside the box and conceding a penalty, only a mere 30 seconds in. It seemed as though despite the return of Son Heung-min after a two-match absence due to injury wouldn’t even be enough to overcome such a terrible start, but then things started to turn the other direction. Tanguy Ndombele equalized just two minutes after the penalty was converted, drawing the match level just four minutes after the opening whistle. The team continued to press and create chances while exploiting the backline weaknesses of United, with Son slotting one into the bottom right corner and past David de Gea for the lead in just the seventh minute. It was all Spurs the rest of the way.
After Anthony Martial received a red card for striking Tottenham’s Erik Lamela in the face in the box, Harry Kane made the scoreline 3-1 with a penalty shot just seconds later. With United down to ten men for the remainder of the match, Spurs continued to assert themselves, with Son adding a second goal in the 37th minute to make it 4-1 at the half. They continued to play well after the break as well, scoring two more goals via Serge Aurier in the 51st and Kane completing a brace in the 79th from the penalty spot that sealed a 6-1 victory.
Wow, did that feel good. Spurs’ offense was clicking from the onset, exposing Man United at every turn with their defense helpless, especially while down a man. Not to mention doing this at Old Trafford, where I’m sure United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was happy there were no fans in attendance while also having to see his team’s every weakness exposed while also making his seat just a little bit hotter.
For context, the 6-1 triumph is their worst defeat at home since another 6-1 loss to Manchester City in 2011. In addition, United conceded four goals in the first half for the first time since May 1990, before the start of the Premier League. They have now allowed at least two goals in each of their first three league games of a season since 1972 when the club finished 18th and was nearly relegated. Tottenham became the first visiting side to score four first-half goals in an away match at United since 1957, which coincidentally was a 4-3 Spurs win. In other words, there wasn’t a better way to end the week, winning three games in seven days across three competitions while also simultaneously keeping the hopes alive of winning a trophy for the first time since 2008.
And while Chelsea, but mainly Man United head into the international break with perhaps a few more questions than answers, Jose Mourinho and Tottenham can be proud of the week they produced while resting up for future matches, and soon, the return of Gareth Bale.
At the beginning of the week, many doubted the squad’s ability to navigate a difficult schedule and come out with all three results. Turns out, they had enough in them all along.
As a Spurs supporter, I’ve had my share of down days and weeks, but this is one of the most memorable in quite some time, and I hope there are many more in them to come, this season and beyond.
