Clement Lenglet told BT Sport following Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over Marseille that Tottenham “didn’t know” if they were supposed to attack or defend – and Jermaine Jenas has taken issue with the Frenchman’s claim in his analysis.
Lenglet, 27, opened his account for Tottenham on Tuesday night with a neat header. Spurs came from behind to beat Marseille away from home, securing their place at the top of Group D. Chancel Mbemba had opened the scoring.
Lenglet equalised from an Ivan Perisic cross, with Spurs so much better in the second half. As Marseille pushed for a winner, Spurs broke in injury time and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg lashed an effort into the top corner. A superb result.
Lenglet spoke after the game. He said, in an interview with BT Sport: “We didn’t play well in the first half maybe because we didn’t know if we had to attack or defend and maybe it was not good to play this type of first half.”
Jenas responded. The ex-Tottenham star suggested that the Spurs players did not have the clarity and took it upon themselves to play a different way after the break. Maybe, having no Antonio Conte in the dugout hindered them.
“I feel like they didn’t have the clarity to go and play on the front foot. From what Clement Lenglet was saying, it sounds as if they were instructed to hold on and protect what they had got,” Jenas said, after Lenglet’s interview.
“But from the minute they conceded, they relaxed and went and played their game. From my point of view, we can see they’re better than that – why not just let them play that? Later in the competition, they won’t get away with that.”
Tottenham win: Jenas takes issue with Lenglet claim
For Lenglet to say he thinks that Tottenham were unsure whether to attack or defend, is worrying. Perhaps they had been instructed to hold on to what they had – but they knew during the first 45 that it was simply not working.
To get into half-time and have a re-think obviously saw Spurs go onto win the game. Hojbjerg’s strike is phenomenal. But it is an issue that is creeping into their recent form. Newcastle, Bournemouth, Sporting Lisbon – all examples.
All in which they have started poorly in the first 45. But their class has been apparent in the second 45. Spurs really need to work out a way in which they can start the way they are finishing games.
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