A palpable sense of relief washed over the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following the final whistle. After six attempts, Tottenham finally secured their first Premier League victory of the season. James Maddison, returning from injury, opened the scoring for the hosts. Jack Rudoni briefly levelled for Coventry City, but Omar Marmoush netted the winner, with Ben Davies sealing the deal late on for a 3-1 triumph. This victory lifted Spurs off the bottom of the table.
Now, it's crucial for Spurs to build on this success as they prepare for a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Saturday, a ground where they’ve only won once since 1992. More importantly, this match against Frank Lampard’s side provided De Zerbi with a clear plan to maximise the capabilities of the club's record signing.
Rocky start for Sandro Tonali
The Italian midfielder's move for £100 million generated considerable buzz, yet his initiation to life in London has been rocky. In the early weeks of the season, he failed to live up to expectations. It was only during the fixture against Coventry City that the former Newcastle United player truly found his feet in the midfield.
Shift in tactical approach
Roberto De Zerbi has traditionally favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation, successfully deploying it at both Brighton and Marseille. However, he opted for a new approach this time, fielding a 3-1-4-2 lineup. Tosin Adarabioyo played between Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven. Andy Robertson and Mohammed Kudus patrolled the flanks, while James Maddison and Archie Gray positioned themselves just ahead in the centre, leaving Tonali as the sole anchor.
At Newcastle United, Eddie Howe regularly utilised Tonali in a midfield trio alongside Bruno Guimaraes, where he had a defined role either as a defensive shield or in the box. At Tottenham, partnered with Rodrigo Bentancur, he found himself stretched between defensive duties and offensive contributions.
Impact on statistics
This new structure allowed Tonali to control the tempo of the game. He completed 68 passes with a 94.1% accuracy, ranking just behind the central defenders in terms of pass volume. The Italian made three tackles, four clearances, and created two goal-scoring opportunities. His reliable presence provided the team with assurance, enabling them to efficiently build attacks down the flanks. This tactical compromise from De Zerbi has unveiled Tonali’s best qualities at just the right moment ahead of their high-scoring clash with Chelsea.
