Rejuvenated Richarlison Helps Frank To 'dream Start'

A convincing three-goal location triumph successful their opener against Burnley seemed nan cleanable commencement to Thomas Frank's Premier League reign astatine Tottenham - but 1 facet disappointed nan Dane.

Such was nan beauty of Spurs' 2nd goal, pinch Richarlison scoring a sensational scissor footwear from Mohammed Kudus' transverse aft a awesome passing move that swept up nan pitch, head Frank fears thing will apical it this season.

"For nan 2nd extremity we had 17 passes and each subordinate successful nan squad touched nan shot and past an exceptional finish. I'm a spot disappointed arsenic truthful early connected we've had nan extremity of nan season," joked Frank.

He had each logic to beryllium successful a jovial temper arsenic Spurs and Richarlison were successful fantabulous shape for Frank's first location crippled since he replaced nan sacked Ange Postecoglou, who was dismissed 16 days aft guiding nan nine to Europa League glory.

Spurs only needed 10 minutes to drawback their first convention extremity of nan play arsenic Richarlison swept location connected nan move pinch a good decorativeness aft bully activity from Kudus, who has made a promising commencement pursuing his £55m move from West Ham.

After Richarlison's acrobatics for extremity number two, he was past progressive successful nan build-up to nan third, earlier Pape Matar Sarr released Brennan Johnson whose objective decorativeness made it 3-0 and sealed Frank's winning start.

When nan Brazil striker was replaced aft 71 minutes, pinch England striker Dominic Solanke coming on, Richarlison was afforded a opinionated ovation.

Richarlison costs Tottenham £60m erstwhile they bought him from Everton 3 years ago, but only scored 4 times successful nan convention past play successful an injury-hit run that included him missing 17 games pinch a hamstring wounded and past a further 10 pinch a calf wounded little than a period later.

"The aesculapian squad person done a apical occupation to build him and that's thing we request to do passim nan season," added Frank.

"The first extremity was easier to people without it being easy. To person a striker that takes those 2 chances helps america triumph nan game. He was very bully against PSG [in nan midweek Super Cup defeat] and again coming pinch his work-rate, driving nan team, linking up nan play, hold-up play, conscionable demanding nan shot and past nan 2 finishes.

"I've ever liked Richarlison and I ever thought he was a bully subordinate erstwhile he played for Everton. When he came to Tottenham he struggled pinch injuries truthful we're alert we request to protect and build him. The first signs are good."

It was not conscionable Frank who was impressed pinch nan striker.

Record Premier League goalscorer Alan Shearer told BBC Sport: "Richarlison was very awesome this day and his 2nd extremity was a phenomenal finish.

"First of each it's awesome helping play from Mohammed Kudus - conscionable arsenic it was for his first goal.

"Richarlison's going distant from goal. You've sewage to readjust almost each portion of your assemblage to get nan connection. It's specified a difficult technique."

Ex-England striker Dion Dublin, speaking connected Final Score, was different to praise Richarlison, who has played 50 times for Brazil, scoring 20 goals.

"Richarlison has everything he needs to people nan goals but he conscionable needs a spot of managing connected and disconnected nan field," said Dublin.

"I judge he is 1 of these players wherever you person to massage his ego and opportunity 'You're great, spell and play, you're playing each week'. Do that and I deliberation you'll get nan rewards."

Although Tottenham's 2024-25 play ended successful glory pinch their first trophy successful 17 years and their first European silverware since 1984, their woeful convention performances near them 17th, successful their worst position successful English shot since 1 run successful nan aged Second Division successful nan precocious 1980s.

Fan protests were a regular portion of past season, though a planned protestation connected Saturday grounded to materialise, isolated from a fistful of fans extracurricular nan stadium holding 1 banner criticising president Daniel Levy, which read: Built a business, killed a shot club.

Some supporters person expressed their disappointment astatine nan club's business successful nan transportation model arsenic Kudus, on pinch midfielder Joao Palhinha who has joined connected a season-long indebtedness from Bayern Munich, person been nan only awesome additions.

Hugely celebrated nine skipper Son Heung-min was sold to Los Angeles FC for £18m, while Spurs grounded successful an effort to motion England's Morgan Gibbs-White pinch nan midfielder since agreeing a caller woody pinch Nottingham Forest.

But nan nine are making advancement to motion Crystal Palace and England guardant Eberechi Eze pinch talks expected to progress successful nan adjacent 48 hours, while Manchester City winger Savinho remains a target.

The champion measurement for Tottenham and Frank to extremity fans protesting is pinch their performances.

This result, and their showing successful nan Uefa Super Cup connected Wednesday - erstwhile they gave European champions Paris St-Germain a immense fright earlier conceding a 94th-minute equaliser to tie 2-2 and past suffer connected penalties - has been a bully start.

Tottenham person remained arsenic entertaining arsenic they were nether Postecoglou, but nan early signs nether Frank are that nan squad will beryllium capable to do that without nan all-out onslaught and defensively susceptible quality often displayed nether nan Australian.

Frank summed it up by saying: "It was a cleanable start, our dream start, but we each cognize we request to travel connected it.

"But coming I will conscionable bask it, and I dream nan players, nan nine and nan fans enjoyed it."