Tottenham record biggest Champions League win as they smash Crvena Zvezda to get over recent poor patch – The Sun
AND relax. Tottenham, once the darlings of English football, are back.
All is well in their complex world again.
As win as good as this means Mauricio Pochettino can finally chill out for a bit.
So can the players after doubles from Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min, plus another from Erik Lamela.
They are up to second in the group, brushing Red Star aside with a proper night’s work in front of their own fans.
This is the Tottenham we know and love.
They rediscovered their mojo with a convincing, controlled showing in front of their rattled fans.
Finally, they were sent home happy.
This was assured and accomplished, playing Champions League football on their terms again.
Olympiakos away, when Poch battered his players because they failed to carry out his orders, was forgotten.
So too was their last home game in Europe, when they were clubbed 7-2 by Bayern Munich.
This was better. So much better.
They got the job done on a routine Champions League night, the way top teams go about their business.
Spurs were up against bog standard opponents, a group of players who would be better off playing Europa League.
Red Star, even with their naughty travelling fans showing up, turned out to be target practice.
After a fitful start, these Spurs boys finally got down to work when Harry Kane turned in Erik Lamela’s ninth-minute, in-swinging corner.
Kane, scorer of 15 goals in the group stages of this competition, did well to take two defenders away from the area.
His near post run, timing his leap to meet Lamela’s centre, was standard stuff from the Tottenham No10.
Soon enough they had another.
Lamela’s pivoted, hanging up a cross to the far post for Son to smash into the roof of the net with a cushioned, left-foot half-volley. Nice finish.
So was Tottenham’s third, scored just moments before the break when Marko Marin was dispossessed on the halfway line.
The poor lad was tiring, just like the rest of this struggling Red Star side.
When Tanguy Ndombele pinched the ball off his toes there was nothing behind Marin, not a soul in sight to save him.
Ndombele ran on and on, finally deciding to send a pass into the very grateful path of Son.
Instead of forming a barrier, Red Star keeper Milan Borjan opened his body for Son to score with a tidy finish.
They were out for more after the break.
In patches, they played like they belonged on the big stage, seasoned veterans of the Champions League group phase.
It is only one game, but Spurs had to sort themselves eventually.
That dreadful run – 7-2 against Bayern, cuffed 3-0 at Brighton and then Saturday’s miserable 1-1 draw with Watford – is over.
These are building blocks, with Spurs slowly, slowly stirring after their botched start to the season.
They have a proper toughie on Sunday, travelling to Liverpool to face the Premier League leaders.
To do something up there, they will need to add a bit more meat to the bones.
Anfield demands a disciplined, dedicated display.
There are no hiding places up there and – if they are honest – some of these lads have been behind a rock of late.
They put on a show here, all possession-based as they cut through this Red Star defence at will.
Lamela finally got his goal on 57 minutes, deservedly so after three decent chances before he finally learned to read a compass.
The South Stand rose to salute him, acknowledging his effort after Kane and Serge Aurier combined.
By then it was exhibition stuff.
You know Poch must be happy because he even gave Eric Dier a rare run-out when he subbed Son.
Poor kid has barely had a kick this season, but on he went in the 68th minute.
Son went off at the nearest exit, conveniently making his way from one end of the South Stand to the other, and then up the touchline.
He was playing up to the crowd, stopping long enough for impromptu selfies with starry-eyed fans.
By then it was Walk-In football, a Champions League group game being played at pedestrian pace.
Ndombele, turning into a libero, sent Kane away on the left and the Spurs man did what the Spurs man does.
He looked a happy man, wearing the captain’s armband with distinction in the absence of Hugo Lloris.
He is the natural successor, leading from the front as Tottenham try to sort out their perplexing form.
This was decent, giving them a shot of confidence before Sunday’s clash up at Liverpool.
They should savour nights like this again because they have been tying themselves up in knots trying to work out their poor form.
They won this easy enough, putting five past this pitiful Red Star side with a thorough workout.
For once they should enjoy it – while it lasts.
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