Tottenham’s win against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City was a huge result for the Lilywhites, and whilst the three points are all that matters, it is important that Jose Mourinho learns from the game and uses one particular player in a role that caused havoc against the Premier League champions.
That man is Heung-Min Son, and the South Korean, whilst being a left-winger by nature, played sublimely when he was being used as a striker at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium yesterday against Guardiola’s Manchester City.
When he was out in wide areas and Lucas Moura was being used upfront the way that Mourinho’s side worked was massively ineffective. However, with Lucas on the right and Son playing as a striker things looked an awful lot better, and that is down to Son being dangerous in the central role.
Wherever Lucas Moura plays he seems to do the same things, get the ball and run, head down, either until he gets into a shooting position or until he’s dispossessed, and that is far from what is needed in this Tottenham team, so having Son in the areas where he can make things happen ahead of Lucas is key.
Until Harry Kane is back, the best way for Mourinho to line up is with Son as the lone striker with a midfield three of Steven Bergwijn and Dele Alli as well as one of Lucas, Erik Lamela or Giovani Lo Celso behind him, and if the momentum builds with this lineup, then a top-four finish is on the cards.
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It’s obviously going to be easier said than done, and Son will inevitably have off days, but no one else can step up in the same way that Son can. It will be a long season from now, but there are ways to navigate it without Kane, and this is looking like the best one.