At a glance:
- Tottenham are unbeaten in three games
- They beat Aston Villa 2-1
- Roberto De Zerbi’s impact is evident
Tottenham Hotspur beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park to make it three games unbeaten in a row in the relegation battle.
Spurs drew 2-2 against Brighton & Hove Albion at home due to a stoppage-time goal from Georginio Rutter. They then beat Wolves 1-0 and Aston Villa 2-1.
This has seen them climb out of the relegation zone, as they now sit one point above West Ham.
Not only have the results improved, but so have the performances. Roberto De Zerbi has made a huge impact on the Tottenham players, and it is visible in their recent displays.
While the tactical shape of the entire team has improved, some players appear to have been transformed under the Italian head coach in just four games.
Tottenham continue to evolve under De Zerbi
The entire Spurs squad has improved under De Zerbi, as they are now playing with more confidence and under a tactically astute manager. However, some players have shown the greatest transformation in this four-game run.
3. Rodrigo Bentancur
Under Thomas Frank, Rodrigo Bentancur seemed like a player who had forgotten how to play football. Known for his dribbling, composure, and passing, the Uruguayan often lacked any impetus on the pitch.
However, since returning from injury under De Zerbi, Bentancur has found his form back. With the likes of Cristian Romero and James Maddison injured, the Uruguayan midfielder has been a leader on the pitch.
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He has often calmed things down when needed, been tidy in possession, and also been proactive out of possession.
2. Antonin Kinsky
The young goalkeeper had a horrific time at Atletico Madrid under Igor Tudor. He made a couple of errors and was subbed off within 17 minutes.
Kinsky has also made numerous errors for Tottenham in the past, especially in the knockout games.
However, with Guglielmo Vicario recovering from a hernia injury, the 23-year-old has been outstanding under De Zerbi. He suits the Italian’s style well as he is good with his feet while playing out from the back. He has also dealt well with set pieces.
Kinsky made two crucial saves to help Tottenham get their first win against Wolves, and he appears to be growing massively in confidence.
1. Conor Gallagher
De Zerbi heaped praise on Conor Gallagher in his first press conference. He has often spoken about the Englishman, and it appears to be bearing fruit as well.
Tottenham signed Gallagher from Atletico Madrid in January, and he failed to make any impact. However, he has been consistently improving under De Zerbi. It all came together on Sunday, as he put in a Player of the Match performance against Aston Villa.
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If Gallagher can continue this improvement, he could be a more crucial player for Spurs than he even was at Chelsea.
