Ian Wright has sung the plaudits of Richarlison after he scored again for Tottenham Hotspur during their 2-2 draw at Manchester United on Sunday.
The 26-year-old now has seven Premier League goals from 18 matches, including scoring six of those from his last seven matches.
That change in form ‘doesn’t surprise’ Ian Wright because he now feels Richarlison, as Tottenham’s main number nine, can fire them to a top-four finish this season, as he told Premier League Productions (15/01/24 at 2:40 pm).
The former England striker thinks the Brazil international tried to ‘please’ Spurs and his own country last season by putting off having surgery on his groin.
But now all of that has been sorted, he thinks the marmite-like forward is starting to perform and produce his top form.
If Ange Postecoglou is able to field a strong XI, including in the final third, then it will seriously increase Tottenham’s chances of securing Champions League football.
And Ian Wright stuck his neck out on the line by saying Tottenham will ‘definitely’ make the top four because their forward line will ‘cause problems’.
Richarlison’s change in form
“You know the thing with Richarlison, you have got to remember the injury he put off and getting this operation with what he was meant to have on his groin,” said Wright.
“He did that for a long time because he was trying to please the club. He was trying to please the country.
“In the end, he realised and he did the interview where the manager got his arm around him and said ‘you have to have that operation’. And a manager who has managed him. Managed how he feels. Managed his emotions. He was talking about mental issues.
“It doesn’t surprise me that he has got the goals he has got now. He needed that. He needed someone to come in, put his arm around him and let him know ‘we care about you. Go and get it done when you are ready’.
“And now we are seeing, I think I said it on here, if they get those players fit and Richarlison is the nine, in that form, they are going to cause problems for teams and definitely make the top four.”
Richarlison stepping up for Tottenham
There will be some cynics who claim that Richarlison, after his club-record transfer in 2022, arrived to replace Harry Kane in the long run.
Given that the England captain’s contract was running down and he did end up making the transfer to Bayern Munich, then it wouldn’t be a surprise if it’s true.
At the end of the day, it’s not something you would put past Daniel Levy because it’s something he would do.
Either way, Richarlison is now performing and stepping up for his team amid injuries and players being absent.
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