Spurs fans have been reacting to footage posted by Last Word On Spurs’ Twitter account, displaying Mousa Dembele’s “midfield masterclass” during a 2-2 draw at Juventus in 2018.
The Belgian midfielder, who played 249 games for Spurs, put in arguably one of his best performances for the club during the Champions League fixture, in which the North London club fought back from 2-0 down to draw the game 2-2.
Dembele was influential in the fightback, registering six dribbles, 117 touches, four tackles and an astonishing 10.3% of total possession, according to WhoScored.
The footage has caused Spurs fans to reminisce about the 32-year-old’s performances, with some even claiming that Dembele has been Spurs most influential player of the last 10 years.
?? #OnThisDay in 2018, former Tottenham Hotspur player Mousa Dembele provided a midfield masterclass versus Juventus:
? Passing Accuracy: 95%
? Most Touches: 116
? Most Passes: 99
? Chances Created: 2
? Interceptions: 1? Unplayable ?
#THFC #COYSpic.twitter.com/X2zILt51ia— Last Word On Spurs (@LastWordOnSpurs) February 13, 2020
This is one of the single greatest performances of any spurs player in any one game over the last decade. Jan at LB in the home leg against Borrusia Dortmund the next year is up there and Lucas v Ajax can’t be overlooked but from start to finish this was a special performance.
— Daniel Boon ESQ (@D4nnyBoonESQ) February 13, 2020
Haven’t been the same since he left
— Wellsy (@wellsy1981) February 13, 2020
A genius a player I would pay over the top to watch when I hear managers saying that defensive midfielders at their clubs are worth 65m I laugh they couldn’t lace this guys boots built like a man mountain but the feet of a ballerina
— bullseye the great (@LC1bully) February 14, 2020
Irreplaceable
— Luke (@Lukewilby_1) February 13, 2020
Most important spurs player in the last 10 years. Our downturn corresponds with him leaving.
— Ben Holmes (@BenRev1) February 13, 2020
LEGENDARY
— GLORY GLORY TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (@MQhg9ZMyovVtIXr) February 13, 2020
A huge miss and void still to be filled #COYS
— Nigel Duxbury (@nigelduxi) February 13, 2020
Juventus could not even get out their own half ? Dembele totally dominated them in midfield.
— Spurs Tickets Now (@SpursTicketsNow) February 14, 2020
Never gonna be able to replace him with anyone unless willing to pay the £100 million it will cost! When then I’d Rather have Dembele still
— @SpursWatson (@SpursWatson1) February 14, 2020
Oh how we’ve missed him this last year!
?— Ryan Booth (@RyanJBooth) February 14, 2020
What do we think?
Dembele was a firm favourite of Tottenham’s last manager, Mauricio Pochettino, – with Dembele featuring 166 times in five seasons under the former Spurs boss. Until the £55 million signing of Tanguy Ndombele, it could be argued Spurs had yet to find an adequate replacement for the Belgian following his departure in January 2019.
However, in Ndombele, Tottenham have a player who shares many of the traits of their former star, with the Frenchman excelling in short passing and dribbling. If Spurs can keep Ndombele fit and focused, there is no reason why the 23-year-old cannot become to Jose Mourinho what Dembele was to Pochettino.