Tottenham showed more evidence they will be a different proposition this season under Roberto De Zerbi as Richarlison scored once and Mikey Moore twice in a 3-0 win over Hoffenheim, the first of a friendly double-header this weekend.
De Zerbi fielded a strong line-up, with new signings Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Sandro Tonali all starting.
Spurs opened the scoring after 35 minutes when Tonali played Robertson in on the left and the full-back’s cross was met with a crisp, first-time finish from Richarlison in the box.
If anything, the second was more impressive in the 59th minute. After a long passing sequence with much of the team involved, Mathys Tel showed skill and persistence to beat his marker and deliver a low cross that Moore converted.
Moore then scored his second, 11 minutes from time, with a composed finish after another assist from the lively Tel.
Jay Harris breaks down the key talking points from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Could Lucas Bergvall have a Spurs future after all?
Before the pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand, it appeared Bergvall was destined to leave. The Athletic reported that the midfielder had expressed a preference to move on but Spurs rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. De Zerbi said he “would like” Bergvall to stay but he cannot guarantee anybody a place in the starting XI.
Something must have clicked because Bergvall started twice on tour and was electric against Hoffenheim. The 20-year-old’s first major involvement in the game was to relentlessly press Hoffenheim’s goalkeeper Oliver Baumann and intercept a loose pass which nearly led to Tel scoring.
Lucas Bergvall was impressive against Hoffenheim (Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)
A few minutes later he allowed the ball to roll across his body inside his own box after receiving a risky pass from Antonin Kinsky while surrounded by multiple opponents. Bergvall twisted away from the pressure and launched an attack. The Sweden international then dropped deep to collect the ball from Senesi, drove forwards up the entire pitch and saw his shot saved by Baumann.
There are encouraging signs Bergvall is developing a good understanding with record-signing Tonali. In the 30th minute, Bergvall nudged a first-time pass towards his Italian team-mate who then released Moore into space on the right wing. Moore’s cross should have been converted at the back post by Richarlison or Tel.
However, he faded in the second half and gave the ball away sloppily on a few occasions.
The biggest question mark for Bergvall is what happens when £85m summer signing Mateus Fernandes and Rodrigo Bentancur are fully fit. Will he drop out of De Zerbi’s plans straight away? On the basis of his recent performances it would be hard to let him go but he deserves to play regularly whether that is in north London or somewhere else.
Will Richarlison start the season at No 9?
Richarlison has played under five different head coaches since he joined Spurs in July 2022 and, despite never feeling like the perfect fit for any of them, somehow keeps surviving. Dominic Solanke has been used sparingly during pre-season by De Zerbi after struggling with injuries for the last 12 months which raises the prospect of Richarlison starting the opening game against Brentford next weekend. It is a strange situation to be in with the forward who “sometimes wants to leave” according to De Zerbi.
Richarlison showed his value against Hoffenheim. He tried to combine with his team-mates by dropping into space and turning on the ball but it is a skill which does not come as naturally to him compared to Solanke. The 29-year-old battled with Hoffenheim’s centre-backs and at one stage in the first half was flattened by Albian Hajdari when they jumped for an aerial duel.
Richarlison’s biggest strength has always been his ability to anticipate where the ball will land in the box and he could be one of the biggest beneficiaries of Robertson’s move from Liverpool. The pair used to be on opposite sides of the Merseyside Derby to each other but the signs suggest they complement each other well. Robertson’s desire to whip first-time crosses into the box led to Richarlison giving Spurs the lead in the 35th minute with a sweeping left-footed shot. It was a move which had been started by an elegant touch from Tonali around Nathan De Cat which allowed him to drive into space unchallenged.
Richarlison was Tottenham’s top goalscorer last season even though he missed a chunk of the season through injury. He has been valuable as a back-up option but it seems like he could be desperately needed in the first few weeks of the campaign despite only having a year left on his contract.
How did Jan Paul van Hecke perform?
On the day that Cristian Romero officially joined Atletico Madrid, Spurs supporters got their first proper opportunity to take a look at his replacement Van Hecke. The biggest difference between the pair is how they communicate with their team-mates. Romero was Tottenham’s captain last season but he was not a vocal leader. Van Hecke is the complete opposite. There were multiple occasions on Saturday where Van Hecke could be heard bellowing instructions, including to older and more experienced team-mates Senesi and Robertson, over the crowd.
The Netherlands international is not quite as physically dominant as Romero but they are both blessed with a beautiful passing range. Van Hecke appears to be more emotionally and tactically disciplined than Romero although there was a bizarre moment in the second half when he chased a clearance from Hoffenheim’s corner all the way back to their goalkeeper.
Senesi will be Micky van de Ven’s understudy and he is a massive upgrade on Radu Dragusin. The 29-year-old always looked composed under pressure and his intricate reverse passes led to multiple goalscoring opportunities. On the basis of Van Hecke and Senesi’s performances, nobody will be worried about saying goodbye to Romero.
Should Mikey Moore be kept as an attacking option?
At a time when there is a growing concern about Tottenham’s attacking options next season, supporters will be wondering why Moore is being sent on loan to Koln. De Zerbi is desperately short on options out wide and Tel is the only fit winger he has available. Mohammed Kudus will hopefully be fully fit soon but Spurs’ pursuit of Manchester City’s Savinho has dragged on for the window.
This could be the perfect opportunity to give players from the academy an opportunity and Moore made a strong case as to why he should stick around. Moore, who was 19 this week, has a slight frame and can be bumped around by defenders but he possesses the agility and skill to skip between them.
Mikey Moore’s two goals suggest he might have a role to play at Spurs this season (Henry NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty Images)
Spending last season on loan at Rangers has clearly toughened him up and added different elements to his game. Moore predominantly plays on the left wing and likes to cut inside onto his stronger right foot. He started on the right against Hoffenheim and both of his goals came from attacking space at the back post. Moore’s first goal came just after half-time when he nimbly side-stepped in front of his marker to score a clever half-volley from Tel’s cross.
The England Under-19 international’s second goal was supplied by a smart piece of skill from Tel. Moore opened up the angle with his first touch after running into space and fired a shot past Baumann. Moore is one of the most highly-regarded players to emerge from Spurs’ academy over the last five years and fans desperately want him to succeed. It will feel strange and bittersweet to see him head out on loan to Germany after such an impressive performance.
When do Spurs play next?
The second game of this friendly double-header with Hoffenheim takes place tomorrow (Sunday Aug 16), before De Zerbi’s side then open their Premier League campaign with a trip to Brentford on Aug 22.
