Tottenham’s most significant win at Wembley since making it their temporary home in Europe at the start of last season was as relentless as it was thrilling. From the opening few minutes it was abundantly clear that there would be goals and by the quarter-hour mark, onlookers were already privilege to three; Spurs scoring from two doppelganger counter-attacks down the left wing and Borussia Dortmund’s Andriy Yarmolenko netting a delicious curler in between. Late on, Harry Kane would seal the result with a swerving, low strike for Tottenham’s third.
Unquestionably, Dortmund represent Tottenham’s biggest scalp to date at Wembley and provide the most encouraging signs yet that the season-long stint in the national stadium won’t derail the incredible progress the team have made over the last two seasons. It was also Mauricio Pochettino’s most impressive result in Europe since becoming Spurs boss; prior to last night, Spurs’ record at Wembley since the start of last season was one win from seven, while Pochettino’s win rate in continental competitions as Tottenham manager was just 43% – hardly high enough to successfully marauding through the many knockout rounds.
After a pulsating victory against a team that embarrassed Spurs in Europe two seasons ago in a 5-1 aggregate demolition, it was quite clear Tottenham’s players and their manager were glad to have the Wembley hoodoo off their backs – or at the very least, have the evidence to convince people to stop harping on about it. Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane both grimaced when the BT Sport interviewer quizzed them on the Wembley curse post-match and perhaps most tellingly of how not necessarily the record itself but certainly the relentless discussion of it has frustrated the Spurs camp over the last year, Pochettino told reporters; “I hope it will stop the talk.”
“Maybe people will stop talking about hoodoos like they have been for the past year. It’s fantastic not only because of three points. I hope it will stop the talk that has been around the team and the club. It’s massive, massive to start in that way. To get three points. It was so important to get the three points against a fantastic team like Borussia Dortmund, who have unbelievable players. It’s massive for our confidence. It’s massive to avenge everyone. It’s true that the game was so tough and they dominated the game. But we were very clinical and it was important we found a way to win.”
And yet, Tottenham’s valiant victory at Wembley didn’t follow the template of a typical Tottenham match; the 3-4-3 became much more of a 5-4-1, Spurs focused their energies on hitting Dortmund’s disorganised defence on the counter and the Lilywhites finished up with just 32% possession. It’s difficult to remember an occasion in which Pochettino’s Tottenham had so little of the ball, let alone an occasion in which they actually won. Last season, Spurs averaged the third-most of any Premier League side at 57.4%.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with finding a new way of winning, especially when the old one becomes dogged by a temporary abode. It’s rather telling of how difficult Tottenham have found it playing in their more recognised, energetic, ball-retaining style at home this season that they lost to Chelsea and drew to Burnley before trouncing Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park last weekend. The problem, however, is whether that way seemingly more suitable to Wembley’s large pitch, more distant stands and less-charged atmosphere can actually be applied to the rest of Tottenham’s home outings this season.
For starters, last night’s Dortmund side was a pale imitation of the one that reached the Champions League final under Jurgen Klopp in 2013 and even the Thomas Tuchel outfit Spurs came unstuck against in the 2015/16 Europa League. The Black and Yellows may be top of the Bundesliga table on goal difference but the quality has steadily drained out of the side over the last four years and more pertinent to last night’s fixture, some key players were absent – Marc Bartra, Marco Reus and Marcel Schmelzer to name a few. In fact, Dortmund’s injury list is nine men deep at this moment in time. Dortmund aren’t the fearsome proposition they once were in Europe, but they were particularly weakened last night.
Perhaps more instrumental in the defeat was Peter Bosz’s regardless insistence to employ a high line, something Tottenham appeared particularly set up to exploit and eventually played a hand in all three of their goals which were created by attacking the space behind the ever-pressing backline. Some teams will feel more tempted to employ similar tactics at Wembley this season than they would have at White Hart Lane last term simply because it still feels as much like a neutral venue as it does Tottenham’s home, especially in Europe and especially Real Madrid.
But on the whole, Tottenham won’t face that kind of line domestically every fortnight. In fact, as Chelsea and Burnley have already proved, most teams will come to Wembley packing out their own box and waiting to hit Spurs on the counter instead. Playing like the away team won’t work when Swansea, Barnsley and Bournemouth come to town in Tottenham’s next three Wembley outings. Last night’s performance was a fantastic performance from the Lilywhites, but the dynamics of the match were largely unique to the opposition.
Of course, as Pochettino himself alluded to, the psychological effects of the performance and result could have more impact than the tactics used. Whether it plagued the minds of his players or not, last night surely made Wembley feel a little more like home – shared memories are an essential part of tying communities together in any aspect of society. Footballers and fan bases in a new stadium are no different.
Yet, as the Lilywhites prepare to face a Swansea side that have conceded just two Premier League goals this season barring a final ten-minute capitulation against Manchester United and will take a particularly pragmatic approach into Saturday’s game, Tottenham still face the same question – can their way of playing be successful at Wembley, especially when there’s ten men behind the ball? Last night’s win may have raised confidence and left Tottenham fans feeling more acquainted with their season-long home, but it hasn’t found a solution to the most fundamental dilemma Spurs face at home this term.
A watershed moment or a false dawn? The answer comes this Saturday.
