Danny Murphy hailed Japhet Tanganga on Match of the Day 2 (15/8, 22:44) as the epitome of everything that was good about Tottenham Hotspur in their win over Manchester City.
Spurs began the Nuno Espirito Santo era by kicking off the 2021/22 Premier League season with a 1-0 win at home to the defending champions. Heung-Min Son scored the only goal of the encounter in the 55th-minute, bending his shot into Ederson’s far corner.
Nuno elected to rest summer signing Cristian Romero for the curtain-raiser, having joined from Atalanta carrying an injury. Instead, the Tottenham boss fielded Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez as his centre-back pairing with Tanganga operating at right-back.
Tanganga’s efforts to restrict Manchester City duo Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling on Tottenham’s right-hand side thrilled Murphy. The former England midfielder believes the 22-year-old was the star of the Spurs backline, which gave Nuno the base to claim victory.
“The will and desire to dominate your opponent, and give yourself that platform in the game to show who you are and what you are was crucial to Tottenham’s win,” Murphy said.
“This was the first minute. Tanganga, I mean, he epitomised everything that was good about Tottenham. He didn’t care that it was Sterling and Grealish, he was right after them.”
Tanganga played 83 minutes against Manchester City before Nuno replaced the Tottenham academy product with Matt Doherty. The England U21 international will now want to build on his strong start to the campaign, having made just six Premier League outings last term.
Murphy right to praise Tanganga after Tottenham beat Manchester City
Tanganga certainly deserved Murphy’s praise after his key role in helping Nuno’s Tottenham to beat Manchester City on Sunday. He faced an uncomfortable summer, after struggling to cement a role under Jose Mourinho or interim boss Ryan Mason.
Reports by Fanatik even claimed he agreed to join Galatasaray on a season-long loan deal last month. But Nuno will be glad he had Tanganga available when Tottenham hosted Manchester City after the performance he delivered.
Tanganga thrived in challenging Grealish and Sterling with an aggression to his efforts to assert his presence. He also offered a creative outlet when the London-born full-back drove forward into the final-third. Earning a standing ovation from supporters when taken off.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
