Spurs play really dynamic football.
They were far too dynamic for Real Madrid last night.
This Spurs team has shape and desire, power and drive, an effective game-plan and the hunger to make that plan work.
In my view, Pochettino’s winning style of football is based on initiative.
As soon as the ref blows his whistle, Tottenham dictate the way the game will be played because they play at such a high tempo.
Their teamwork is impressive because the constantly practice how to pass the ball forward early, and how best to support that early pass.
Real Madrid, who were missing keeper Keylor Navas, centreback Raphael Varane and right back Danny Carvajal, were made to look lazy and clueless by Tottenham’s pressing & slicing style of play.
Yes, the Spurs style is very energy-consuming. Yes, it depends on the running power of Kane & Alli, and the supply of crosses to them, and the perceptive combinations designed for them by Christian Eriksen.
Spurs will invariably stop you playing your game because you’re being so fiercely hustled and stretched by their high-speed attacks that you can’t play your own game against them.
That approach worked well in the Bernabeu, where Spurs scored first and impressed in a 1-1 draw. As Balague admitted, that match in Madrid made the Spanish media wake up and pay attention to how much Tottenham Hotspur have improved.
Were you surprised to learn that Real Madrid had never played at Wembley before? I was.
Dele Alli, back from a three-match suspension, was in the mood, as I knew he would be.
After Kane won a throw by foxing Nacho, Varane’s deputy, a swift crossfield move ended with a first-time cross by Trippier flew low and square across the six-yard box.
Expecting exactly that ball, Dele Alli zoomed forward and toepoked in from three yards. Replays showed that Tripper was offside, but the linesman, who was on the right back’s side, did not flag.
After that Cristiano Ronaldo had two shots and Hugo Lloris saved both.
Half-time: Spurs 1 Real Madrid 0
After 56, an explosive break, Dele Alli took the ball into the box and smashed a right-foot shot that hit Ramos and bounced nastily past the keeper.
Spurs 2 Real Madrid 0
As a Real pushed forward, so that there were 21 players in the Spurs half, Dele Alli suddenly broke forward very powerfully from the middle of his own half.
At that moment, only Kane and two defenders were in front of Alli, apart from the goalkeeper, so Alli just powers into the centre circle and jabs a killer ball forward to Kane and Christian Eriksen keeps his support sprint onside.Kane’s pass is perfect, so is the Dane’s first touch, which allows Eriksen to clip his shot neatly past the keeper.
Spurs 3 Real Madrid 0.
Then Ronaldo scored a late consolation goal with a shot that deflected off Eric Dier and Dele Alli missed a header from Trippier’s cross.
A crowd of 83,000 saw Pochettino’s Tottenham beat Zidane’s Madrid 3-1.
Dele Alli said, “We showed the world how good we are.”
Pochettino said, “Was an amazing victory for us. The whole team competed at a high level.”
Myles said: “Thanks, guys. I won three of my four bets on Dele and Spurs.”