We are almost a month into the new season, with Tottenham Hotspur enjoying a mixed start. The Lilywhites have won both their away games emphatically but have lost their home games, signifying that there’s much room for improvement.
Here, at The 4th Official, we take a look at three Tottenham players who need to step up this season if Jose Mourinho’s men are to finish inside the top-four come May.
Toby Alderweireld
Following the departure of Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld was expected to take up an even more crucial role in the Tottenham defence, being their most experienced defender.
However, in a bizarre turn of events, the Belgian has now fallen behind Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier in the pecking order. He has found it difficult to get into the starting lineup in recent weeks, with Jose Mourinho primarily using him in midweek cup matches.
It doesn’t bode well for a player of Alderweireld’s calibre, and the veteran must step up his game if he wants to avoid a rapid fall from grace at Tottenham Hotspur. Providing promising performances in midweek matches could be a step in the right direction.
Giovani Lo Celso
Giovani Lo Celso’s struggles with injuries and lack of involvement in the pre-season could cost him dearly this season as he is yet to establish himself as a first-team regular for Tottenham so far.
Mourinho has bizarrely started to put his trust on Tanguy Ndombele, who has been performing well in that advanced midfield role. It could spell trouble for Lo Celso, who mainly likes to operate in the number ten role.
The fact that Tottenham have signed Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg makes things even more difficult for the Argentinian as the ex-Southampton star is occupying the additional midfield slot. So it will be interesting to see how Lo Celso manages to get back into the first-team following a rusty start to the 2020/21 campaign.
Lucas Moura
Probably a no-brainer, Lucas Moura could be in danger of losing his value in the Tottenham Hotspur side due to a set of inconsistent performances throughout his career in north London.
The Brazilian is often maligned on social media due to his ineffectiveness going forward. While there is no question that he is a hard-worker, Lucas just doesn’t have the productivity to make an impact for a club like Tottenham.
Moreover, after the international break, as new signing Gareth Bale nears his return to the pitch, Lucas must improve his performances to keep his place in the side, with the likes of Steven Bergwijn and Erik Lamela also pushing for the first-team opportunities.
