Ange must unleash Spurs’ “mischievous” £70k-p/w “master” to sink Bournemouth today
The Lilywhites will hope to bounce back from defeat with a big performance against the Cherries.
Although it has been a difficult journey for individuals living in the N17, 2023 is almost over, and Tottenham Hotspur will aim to finish the season strong by defeating Bournemouth in the Premier League.
Despite suffering from serious injuries, Ange Postecoglou’s team is still in the running for the top four. If Spurs win this evening, they would trail Manchester City and Arsenal by just one point despite having played one more game.
Even though a number of the starting lineup players for the hosts are out of the picture for the 2023 final, there is more than enough talent available to defeat the Cherries, no matter how good they are.
Spurs team news vs Bournemouth
Dejan Kulusevski’s midweek yellow card against Brighton & Hove Albion means he will be sidelined for the upcoming match, which will only make his team’s problems worse.
Indeed, Spurs’ defense is extremely thin, and either Eric Dier or rookie Ashley Phillips may need to start. Cristian Romero recently suffered a hamstring injury that will keep him out of action for five weeks. He will join defensive partner Micky van de Ven on the sidelines.
Oliver Skipp is the only other injured player for Tottenham who is getting closer to returning. He missed the previous game due to a knock, but he might be back soon to replace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the engine room.
Why Spurs should unleash Giovani Lo Celso
Giovani Lo Celso, an Argentine midfielder who hasn’t started any of the previous four Premier League games, is one player who is expected to start later today. Lo Celso was probably needed after Kulusevski’s ban.
The explosive Swede, who has started every game his team has played in the division so far and has five goals, two assists, and creates 2.3 crucial passes per game, will undoubtedly have huge shoes to fill.
Lo Celso, at 27 years old, was acquired by Spurs for an incredible £55 million from Real Betis in 2019. Despite his obvious talent, he failed to live up to expectations and was labeled a “flop” by Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Athletic. He then spent eighteen months on loan at Villarreal before returning to Spurs.
As per FBref, the £70k-per-week star ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, passes attempted and progressive passes and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90, highlighting the level of his technical ability.
Further, he scored in successive matches against Aston Villa and Manchester City during the Lilywhites’ tough period in November and will be hungry to add to his tally, bringing the sauce with his “mischievous” style, as was said by Alasdair Gold.
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With his club having won 60% of ground duels and completed 91% of passes in the English top tier thus far this season, Postecoglou should be confident that his team’s inventiveness will hold up against Andoni Iraola’s explosive squad.
Lo Celso, who was once dubbed a “master of the last pass” by reporter Milena Gimon, has a fantastic chance to impress his management against Bournemouth and end the season on a high note. His creativity in the middle of the pitch could prove to be the difference.
