Ange Postecoglou brushed apart his all-out attacking ideas and went deep and direct when it actually mattered to finish Tottenham’s trophy drought: THE SHARPE END

It’s simply who we’re, mate.’ Ever since Ange Postecoglou pushed his 9 remaining Tottenham gamers as much as the midway line towards Chelsea two years in the past, he’s appeared sure to his all-out attacking ideas.

Solely it wasn’t who they have been when it mattered most in Bilbao as Postecoglou’s facet dropped deep and went direct to beat Manchester United and finish their 17-year look forward to a trophy.

Spurs mustered three photographs towards United, had solely 28 per cent possession and accomplished simply 115 passes, all of the lowest figures statisticians Opta have on report for a crew in a serious European ultimate since 2009-10.

How completely different to traditional ‘Ange-ball’.

Spurs common 55 per possession within the league this season and so they normally full 414 passes, behind solely the opposite Huge Six sides. The 115 Spurs managed in Bilbao is lower than half as many as even Nottingham Forest. Even Forest common 40 per cent possession.

With out James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, Postecoglou went direct. Within the notorious 6-3 house defeat to Liverpool in December, a recreation after which he insisted once more he wouldn’t change his method, Spurs went lengthy with simply seven per cent of their passes. About one in each 14 passes. Towards United, it was 22 per cent – just below one in 5.

Spurs dropped deep and went direct to beat Man United and finish their 17-year look forward to a trophy

Brennan Johnsons scored the one objective of the sport to provide Tottenham the victory in Bilbao

The common place maps from each video games present how, even in an exhilarating defeat, Spurs pushed excessive up the pitch. Towards United, their entrance line barely received out of their very own half

Towards Liverpool, Spurs accomplished 85 per cent of their passes. In Bilbao, they accomplished lower than two thirds.

Tottenham bypassed the midfield towards United. Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Sarr touched the ball the identical variety of occasions as United keeper Andre Onana. Full-backs Pedro Porro and Future Udogie mixed for greater than 1 / 4 of the crew’s complete touches.

The common place maps from each video games present how, even in an exhilarating defeat, Spurs pushed excessive up the pitch. Towards United, their entrance line barely received out of their very own half.

And as soon as they have been in entrance, they held on for expensive life. Tottenham had only one contact within the United field in the course of the second half.

It was Tottenham, however not as we all know it. However, in the long run, it labored.