Spurs Keep Pressure on Leicester

Spurs’ European adventure came to an end last Thursday evening, at the hands of an upsettingly good Borussia Dortmund side. Every loss contains its own seed, as Malcolm X once said and if there’s anything to be gained from such a cut-and-dry defeat over two legs, it’s that Thomas Tuchel’s outfit perhaps showed Tottenham a glimpse of their own potential. A look at what they could hope to become.

Here is an example of the system working. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Marco Reus might be the darling princes of this Dortmund side but it’s the group that’s king. Cogs whirring, pistons moving in perfect unison; this a fully functioning piece of German engineering. Absurd levels of fitness, breathtaking technical quality; Dortmund are the blueprint for Spurs’ future.

Eddie Howe took a similarly motivated view of his Bournemouth side this weekend, after the Cherries were thoroughly bested by a Harry Kane-inspired Tottenham on Sunday afternoon:

“They’re a side full of energy, lots of quality with the ball and certainly a team for us to look at and try and emulate.”

He insisted that the North London club were the toughest opponents he’d encountered since guiding Bournemouth out of the Championship last May, and, after an aggregate score of 8-1 over the two fixtures, it’s easy to understand his position.

Bournemouth have been a first-rate addition to the League this year. Not limited to the box office wins over Chelsea and Man United in December, they’re that rare instance of a promoted side making a success of playing expansive, expressive football.

A young coach, putting faith in young players, single-minded in his devotion to his methods; there’re plenty of comparisons to be made between the two clubs and their managers.

Despite the similarities, however, like Tottenham, when pitched against the might of Dortmund, Bournemouth still have a way to go yet. In both fixtures against Pochettino’s title-chasers, they’ve been reduced to scorched earth. The gulf, understandably considering the two side’s resources, has been vast.

Indeed, the outlook was bleak for the South Coasters on Sunday after less than sixty seconds. With the game so young it was swimming in embryonic goo, Kyle Walker found himself in an ocean of space. So much room in fact, that his loose first-touch scarcely registered before he was able to hurl a menacing cross towards Harry Kane. From there the England striker did what comes naturally and used a well-positioned stud to direct the ball past Artur Boruc. Early advantage Tottenham.

And that was very much the theme of the afternoon. Spurs in total control. Just after the quarter-hour mark, Kevin Wimmer found Dele Ali with a purposeful ball past the half-way line. Ali, then, with a millisecond snapshot of the future in his mind, anticipated Kane’s run off the defender’s shoulder and released him in on goal. Kane, again with some predictability, rolled it past Boruc for his 21st League goal of the season. His fifth against Bournemouth.

The first-half dominance was translated numerically on the 52nd minute, as Christian Eriksen tapped in the rebound after Kane’s long-range pop-shot was only palmed meekly by Boruc. 3-0 and from there it was a case of managing the game and not giving Bournemouth even the slightest hint that a comeback might be possible. Retain possession, squeeze out all hope.

Spurs legend Ossie Ardiles remarked on Twitter after the game that it was an impeccable win and it’s hard to argue. A near-complete performance against one of the in-form sides in the League. Remember, only Leicester and Spurs have a better post-Christmas record than Bournemouth, so to dominate a game so comprehensively is encouraging at this late stage of the season.

Anfield awaits…