Spurs £20m star played a crucial role in Tottenham Hotspur’s much-needed 2-0 victory over Manchester United on Sunday evening, further solidifying his place in Ange Postecoglou’s plans.
After dealing with an injury-hit squad for several weeks, Postecoglou was finally able to welcome back key players such as James Maddison and Guglielmo Vicario. Both returned to the starting lineup and made an immediate impact, adding stability and creativity to Spurs’ play. While Tottenham are still far from their peak form, their performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium showed clear signs of progress, particularly in defense and midfield.
James Maddison Impressed by Guglielmo Vicario’s Presence
One of the standout performers of the night was goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who showcased his reliability between the posts. Maddison, who himself put in a strong performance, was particularly impressed with the Italian shot-stopper. Despite the potential of young backup Antonin Kinsky, Vicario reaffirmed his status as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper with another commanding display.
As the game progressed and became more stretched in the second half, Postecoglou had the luxury of calling upon fresh legs, introducing Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert to inject pace and energy into Tottenham’s attack. However, the squad is still awaiting the return of key striker Dominic Solanke, who will eventually compete with Mathys Tel for the starting role up front.
Djed Spence Secures His Spot in Postecoglou’s Plans
While competition for places remains fierce, Djed Spence is making it incredibly difficult for anyone to displace him from the starting lineup. The right-back has been one of Spurs’ most consistent performers in recent weeks, and his latest display against Manchester United only reinforced his growing importance.
Solanke, who was watching from the sidelines, was so impressed by Spence’s performance that he took to social media to praise him. Shortly after the final whistle, the striker posted a picture of Spence holding his Player of the Match award on his Instagram story, adding a simple yet powerful three-word caption: “What a player.”
It’s a remarkable turnaround for Spence, who was seemingly surplus to requirements just a few months ago. During the summer transfer window, Tottenham were open to selling the full-back, and had Destiny Udogie remained fit, Spence might not have even had the opportunity to prove himself. Now, Udogie faces a difficult task in reclaiming his starting position, as Spence continues to thrive under Postecoglou’s guidance.
Jamie Redknapp Hails Spence as a ‘Tremendous Talent’
Spence’s resurgence has not gone unnoticed, with former Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp among those heaping praise on the young defender. Speaking on Sky Sports after Tottenham’s victory, Redknapp described Spence as a “tremendous talent” and highlighted the player’s impressive attributes.
“Antonio Conte didn’t really want Djed Spence, and he made that pretty clear,” Redknapp noted. “But he is a young player with tremendous talent – speed, agility, can defend, cool on the ball, he has a football brain. You just need a bit of belief. If there weren’t these injuries, we probably wouldn’t even see him. He was excellent.”
Redknapp’s comments underline just how much Spence has transformed his career in North London. Once overlooked under previous managers, he is now earning widespread recognition for his performances. Some even speculate that his rise could attract the attention of England manager Thomas Tuchel, who may consider him for a call-up to the national team.
As Tottenham continue their campaign under Postecoglou, Spence’s resurgence provides a compelling subplot. With each passing game, he is proving that he belongs at the highest level and is making himself indispensable in a squad that is evolving into genuine top-four contenders.
‘What a player’’- Dominic Solanke left blown away by what £20m Tottenham star did against Man United that won Spurs the 3pts
