Tottenham stars shown up by Bruno Guimaraes – pundit
Noel Whelan has claimed Antonio Conte will have been “disappointed” with his Tottenham midfield after they were “bossed” by Bruno Guimaraes during the 2-1 loss against Newcastle on Sunday (23 October).
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed Oliver Skipp, 22, failed to take his “opportunity” after being handed his first start of the season.
Skipp started alongside Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur in a three-man midfield which failed to take control of the game as Tottenham slipped to a second successive Premier League loss.
Spurs remain third in the top flight but now trail league leaders Arsenal by five points after 12 games.
Midfield mainstay and Conte favourite Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg missed Sunday’s game through injury after starting the previous 11 games.
Bissouma was making just his fourth Premier League start since joining the Lilywhites in the summer transfer window.
Whelan claimed Guimaraes “completely bossed” the midfield area despite being outnumbered by Spurs.
He told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “Absolutely, Conte will have found a lot out about Skipp and Bissouma.
“We knew Bruno Guimaraes is a fantastic player, but he completely bossed the midfield against Spurs. He’s got that desire, that tenacity.
“Skipp, Bissouma, and the midfield as a whole just couldn’t compete with him – and that will really disappoint Conte.
“Bissouma is one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League on his day, and Skipp got his opportunity – but I don’t think he really took it.
“It’s an area which is so important to winning games over a whole season. Conte needs players who can command and boss that area.
“Yesterday, they just weren’t at the races. Guimaraes, however, was brilliant. He just gets better and better.”
In other news, pundit backs Tottenham to win the race for James Maddison after journalist’s update.