After a shaky start to the season, it’s safe to say Spurs are on fire at the moment. They’ve got the numbers to prove it, too, as Ange Postecoglou’s side are now leading the way across Europe’s top five leagues when it comes to one key statistic.
Ask most people what the most prominent feature of Ange Postecoglou‘s style of football is and they’d probably mention his inverted full-backs or their quick, slick attacking moves from back to front.
One thing that has gone relatively unnoticed, until this season at least, is the intense nature of the high press his players employ, but it has been devastatingly effective recently.
According to data from WhoScored, Tottenham have now won possession in the attacking third more times than any team across Europe’s top five leagues (Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, La Liga).
The Lilywhites have turned over play in attacking areas 50 times already this season, which is actually 11 times more than any other team in the sample data.
Spurs have always been instructed by Postecoglou to press high and win back the ball in dangerous areas, but the impact of Dominic Solanke in improving this facet of Tottenham’s game cannot be overstated.
The striker has not only hit the ground running with three goals in three games, but he’s also been instrumental in helping the team apply pressure to their opponents in the attacking third, using his physicality and high work rate to pin teams into their own area.
Obviously, any team would rather win possession in the attacking third and create opportunities there, but it’s a testament to the work ethic and mentality of the whole team that Cristian Romero is also excelling in possession turnovers this season.
The Spurs defender has won possession 41 times this term, more than any centre-half in the Premier League (WhoScored).
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