MY ACCOUNT
Tottenham picked up a valuable point at Chelsea last Sunday, and summer signing Richarlison played an important role in helping keep his side in the game.
Having served his one-match suspension carried over from his time at Everton, the £60million man is knocking on the door of a spot in Antonio Conte’s starting XI.
Ahead of Spurs’ home clash against Wolves on Saturday, we take a look at how Richarlison can challenge the likes of Heung-Min Son and Dejan Kulusevski for minutes in North London.
More than a benchwarmer
Spurs have one of the best attacking trios in the Premier League. Unsettling that frontline is no easy task, but Richarlison will fancy his chances.
You will be hard-pressed to find a player with more determination and desire to win than the Brazilian — this was evident in his approach at Stamford Bridge.
The 25-year-old was eager to chase every ball and fly into tackles, something not often seen from the likes of Son and Harry Kane.
With Spurs chairman Daniel Levy opting to splash out on Richarlison, it is implied that his role in the squad will be much greater than just an impact substitute.
Capable of playing across the frontline, Conte may choose to utilise the former Watford attacker as an alternative option for an underperforming player.
The South American netted 10 times for the Toffees in the Premier League last season and provided a further five assists under Frank Lampard.
Now representing a Champions League club with aspirations of winning silverware, Richarlison must be given the opportunity to make his mark at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Willing to do the dirty work
One trait that Conte looks for in a player is aggression — new summer signings Ivan Perisic and Yves Bissouma are similar in the sense that they are not afraid to put in a full-blooded challenge.
Richarlison is no exception and his willingness to put in the yards separates him from other top strikers in the Premier League.
Speaking earlier in the year, Lampard was very vocal about the striker and how he is a coach’s dream.
“I think he is a fantastic, huge talent, with a work ethic which is the reason why Everton fans are so drawn to him.
“The way he fights — he is a really tough boy — and some of that is due to his make-up and upbringing. It is a pleasure to work with him.”
Richarlison was seen as a hero among Evertonians and despite only featuring for 30 minutes against Chelsea, his commitment already has Spurs fans smitten over their No9.
Top talent
Richarlison’s endeavour and versatility are not the only aspects of his game Conte has been impressed with.
During Spurs’ pre-season tour, the 36-cap international was subject to much observation from the Italian coach, who liked what he saw.
He said: “I think he is strong physically and a good personality, good character, good quality.
“For sure also for Richy in this period he is working and we are working on the tactical aspects with him because he has to go into our idea.
“He is a player that gives me important positions up front. He’s a player that is a good player, strong and very good to protect the ball and attack the space, I am very happy we signed him”.
His adaptability is huge for Spurs who are set to play in four competitions once again this season.
There is no doubt that Richarlison’s quality warrants regular game time, but the real task will be cementing a place in the starting XI.
Long-term possibilities
Conte changed his side’s shape in the second half of the Chelsea clash, switching to a back four and partnering Kane with Richarlison up top.
The former Inter Milan boss has favoured a 3-5-2 formation in the past and we could see a transition into something similar in North London.
Alternatively, Richarlison could be a long-term replacement for either Kane or Son, with the latter now in his 30s and the England captain recently turning 29.
Regardless of the formation or set-up, the Copa America winner has staked his claim for a starting spot against Wolves.
Bruno Lage has had a tough start to the season and will be looking to come away from the game with at least a point.
With his side likely to set up a low block to prevent Spurs from exploiting gaps in the defence, Richarlison might be a good option to put pressure on the visitors’ backline.
