17 hours ago
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It’s hard to imagine how this could have gone any better for Thomas Frank. In front of an exuberant home crowd still basking in ending their long wait for a trophy, a breathtaking bicycle-kick from a rejuvenated Richarlison helped seal a convincing victory in the Dane’s first Premier League match in charge of Tottenham.
Spurs’ new £55m signing Mohammed Kudus was also outstanding as he created both of the Brazilian’s goals before Brennan Johnson rounded things off against a Burnley side that proved a tough nut to crack. After conceding the opener to Richarlison – who was a bit-part player under Ange Postecoglou last season and had been linked with a move away this summer – in the 10th minute, Scott Parker’s side had their chances against a defence that creaked at times. They ultimately paid the price of their profligacy but will be encouraged by this display.
With negotiations with Crystal Palace edging closer over a move for Eberechi Eze, these are exciting times for Tottenham supporters. Frank showed he is not afraid to gamble by starting the teenagers Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall in central midfield and was rewarded with the kind of performance that so often eluded his predecessor, at least in this competition.
After coming so close to winning a trophy in his first match in charge against Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup, the new head coach was given a rapturous reception when he emerged from the tunnel before kick-off. Frank made three changes from the team that lost on penalties in Udine on Wednesday, with Johnson brought in alongside Gray and Bergvall.
Burnley might have set a defensive record in the Championship last season after conceding only 16 goals but they let in 78 in their last Premier League campaign. Even after adding plenty of top-flight experience in the form of Kyle Walker and Martin Dubravka, it was therefore no surprise to see them on the back foot immediately as Spurs flew out of the blocks and almost took the lead within 30 seconds of the start when Bergvall drew the former Newcastle goalkeeper into a save. Burnley looked like they knew they were in for a long afternoon, especially in the fourth minute when Dubravka fell foul of tighter regulations on goalkeepers holding on to the ball for longer than the permitted eight seconds and Tottenham were duly awarded a corner.
Kudus make an instant impression when he found space down the right flank in the 10th minute and whipped in a brilliant cross for Richarlison to finish first time. Their supporters probably feared the worst at that point but the visitors slowly found their feet as Lyle Foster and Josh Laurent both saw efforts go wide. The new Spurs captain, Cristian Romero, was fortunate to escape a yellow card after upending Foster on the edge of his area as Hannibal Mejbri curled the resulting free-kick way over the crossbar.
Guglielmo Vicario was less than convincing when he had to tip Laurent’s deflected shot over, while Frank let out a scream of anger when Walker was given too much space to whip in a cross that just eluded Jaidon Anthony just before half-time. Adopting a more casual look than Parker’s suit, jacket and tie, the Spurs manager was more encouraged by his side’s start to the second half. Richarlison should have doubled his tally after his initial effort struck Maxime Estève on the shoulder but Dubravka’s outstretched boot did just enough to divert the ball wide.
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Burnley had two chances to make them pay when the lively Foster set up Mejbri, only for Pape Sarr to make a last-ditch tackle before Anthony directed his header straight at Dubravka. Those proved to be crucial as, with Tottenham’s next attack, Kudus again left his marker for dead with a clever piece of skill and Richarlison swivelled in mid-air before hammering in the cross.
The Brazilian also played his part in the third goal when he eluded Estève’s challenge in the centre circle and Sarr was able to surge forward to play in Johnson, with last season’s top scorer making no mistake. Richarlison left the field to a standing ovation as a new era dawned in this part of north London.
