Tottenham earned a narrow 2-1 win over PSV Eindhoven.
Harry Redknapp told BT Sport’s coverage of Tottenham Hotspur’s last-gasp win over PSV Eindhoven that Fernando Llorente changed the game when he came on – but says Spurs must improve in one crucial area.
Llorente, 33, entered the field of play in the 75th minute and his physicality and presence allowed Spurs to go more direct. He controlled a long ball before feeding Harry Kane with an inch-perfect assist for Spurs’ equaliser.
The Spaniard gave PSV’s centre-backs more to do, and that gave Kane the space to head home an injury-time winner over Mark van Bommel’s side, keeping Spurs’ hopes of qualifying for the knockout phase alive.
Former Spurs manager Redknapp believes the Spanish striker gave his old side the impetus, but is desperate to see Mauricio Pochettino’s men improve their defending from set-pieces after conceding from another corner.
“Bringing Llorente on, they could put the ball in the box. They hadn’t been able to break them down prior to that,” Redknapp said.
“One thing that will worry Tottenham is that they have conceded another goal from a corner. They did the same at Watford. It keeps happening but it is something they must work on.”
Kane’s ninth and tenth goals of the season provided Spurs with a crucial three points in Group B of the Champions League, which now sees them sit on four points.
Inter Milan are on seven in second after drawing with Barcelona, who have qualified with 10. Spurs must now beat Inter and hope to pick up something against Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Llorente’s future remains in doubt at Spurs with his £75,000-a-week (Spotrac) contract ending in the summer, but he may have just given Pochettino reason to keep him in north London.
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