Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham team got out to a quick start but ultimately lost 4-2 against Barcelona after giving up two goals in the final three minutes.
Oliver Skipp performed admirably in the loss, scoring both of Tottenham’s goals in the 24th and 36th minutes. However, a worn-out Spurs team wilted late, and Barcelona won the Joan Gamper Trophy.
Harry Kane, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Cristian Romero were among of the larger stars that remained in London for Tottenham‘s game on Wednesday, meaning that they were not at full strength.
Postecoglou took responsibility for the choice to “leave guys at home” and only employ a few changes, both of which contributed to the Spurs’ ultimate defeat.
Overall though, the performance was a resounding success since a very undermanned Tottenham squad was able to challenge Barcelona all the way and hold the advantage for 80 minutes.
“It worked well. The first half was outstanding. They scored, but we responded superbly, Postecoglou remarked after the game, according to football.london.
“We played some pretty fantastic football the entire first half, pressing them, and you could tell they were uncomfortable. The boys, in my opinion, were fantastic. Simply put, our legs gave out in the second half. Many of the men that were out there were playing their first 90 minutes at this level of intensity.
“I felt that with the preseason going the way it has, we are a few of games short, so I decided not to make too many substitutes today and to leave individuals at home. Even if it ultimately cost us money, the players gave their best, and that is all that could be expected.
Keep Up claims that the largest sports publication in Barcelona, Mundo Deportivo, praised Postecoglou‘s management of Tottenham as a “excellent” performance.
“Barcelona found an aggressive Tottenham,” Joan Poqui noted in his game analysis. “They were very consistent despite playing without many of their starting players and dominated the game after Lewandowski’s early goal,” said one observer.
On Wednesday morning, one interaction that took place deep in the Tottenham half went viral, demonstrating how courageous Postecoglou‘s team was already playing.
When it came to setting up Skipp’s opening goal of the game on Wednesday, Postecoglou always wanted his teammates to feel at ease playing out the back.
Given how the Spurs started the game on Wednesday, the fact that Tottenham managed to take an early 2-1 lead while being without so many elite players was extremely amazing.
After Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring just three minutes after the game began on the strength of some deft set-up work from Raphinha, Postecoglou’s team faced some early difficulty.
But Skipp gave Tottenham the lead with a quick-fire brace, taking advantage of the extra space allowed to him to drive up the pitch and have an influence in attack.
Following the game, Postecoglou was eager to compliment him as well, calling the 22-year-old “outstanding”.
He clearly didn’t get much of a rest, but now that he’s back, he has plenty of energy, which he employs to great use. He maintains a level of intensity both with and without the ball that makes him difficult to handle, according to Postecoglou.
He was great tonight. Early on, he took a big blow, but he fought through it, which demonstrates his spirit.
Davison Sanchez, on the other hand, was a star as well, playing defence for the most of the game with vigour and dedication.
On Sunday at 11 p.m. (AEST) against Brentford, Tottenham plays its first Premier League game of the year. Postecoglou is the manager.
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