95-minutes Japhet Tanganga played for Tottenham last night, and by anyone’s conceivable reckoning it was a worthy MOTM performance on the basis that the 21-year-old typified for me what any coach is looking for in youth players; discipline, courage and a willingness to give his best without hesitation.
After some pretty rubbish misfortune with injury, it is evident that Japhet was wholly focused on this return, and this appearance was certainly just what the doctor ordered for Spurs.
80 interactions and only 9 weren’t successful.
Only 3 misplaced passes all game.
Out of all his duels – and he made a lot against a side that weren’t all that attack minded – Tanganga was only unsuccessful on 3 occasions.
These recoveries will have impressed Mourinho, Japhet made 25, and 9 were in the opposition’s half.
I make no apology for being a Tanganga fan, it is evident from what we have all seen, that he is a thoroughly decent kid, from a good family, who is driven to become a pro athlete, without a back-story, without fuss, and without complications. For that, he earns my immediate respect.