Eric Dier has told Tottenham Hotspur’s website that Richarlison has “surprised” him with just how strong the Brazilian is in the air, after the attacker opened his Spurs account with a wonderful brace against Marseille on Wednesday night.
Richarlison, 25, was handed only his second start by Antonio Conte against Igor Tudor’s side. Spurs were frustrated and looked nervous in the first 45, but were more intense in the second. Son Heung-min got Chancel Mbemba sent off.
Eventually, Tottenham made the breakthrough. A bit of magic from Ivan Perisic, as the veteran new signing found the head of a fellow summer recruit in Richarlison. The Brazilian powered a header into the net, past Pau Lopez.
Speaking about Richarlison after his two goals and Tottenham’s 2-0 win, Dier was full of praise for the new signing. He spoke of how the ex-Everton and Watford attacker has surprised him in terms of his aerial ability since his arrival.
“He plays with his heart on his sleeve, every day, in training, in matches. I can’t speak highly enough of him, his character, the way he works every day. His patience having not played too much at the beginning of the season.
“He’s come in in the last two games. They were great headers as well. He’s very strong in the air. That’s maybe a part of his game that’s surprised me a little since he arrived. He’s such a threat in the air and physically so strong.”
Dier ‘surprised’ by Tottenham attacker Richarlison in the air
What a night for Richarlison. Images and clips of the Spurs no.9 sharing a moment with his family on the touchline at full-time shows just how hard he has worked to get into the position he is in now. He is deserving of the plaudits.
His goals are not only symbolic of the type of player he is. But they are packed full of quality and attacking nous. For the first, he peels off the defender to get a yard. It allows him to leap in the air and generate a huge level of power.
The second is pure aggression. Getting the better of the Marseille defenders, he still manages to redirect the header on goal. He has given Antonio Conte a real headache in terms of who he picks in his front three against Manchester City.
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