The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Spurs

  • EPL: Spurs defender Romero sent off as Man Utd extend winning run

    EPL: Spurs defender Romero sent off as Man Utd extend winning run

    Tottenham skipper Cristian Romero was accused of letting his team-mates down as his first-half red card helped condemn his side to defeat as Manchester United extended their winning run under Michael Carrick.

    Bryan Mbeumo put United in front after 38 minutes at Old Trafford when he applied a brilliant finish to a superb corner routine involving Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo.

    Fernandes wrapped up the win late on as he turned home Diogo Dalot’s inswinging cross.

    But the main focus was on Romero. So critical of Tottenham’s board in midweek, the Argentine gave referee Michael Oliver no option other than to brandish a red card with a tackle that caught Casemiro just above the ankle and left the Brazilian screaming in pain.

    It was Romero’s second red card of the season, which means he will miss four games, including the north London derby against Arsenal on 22 February.

    BBC Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy said Romero had “let his team-mates down”.

    The result means Tottenham have now gone seven Premier League games without a win, a run that has yielded just four points and leaves them 14th and too close to the relegation places for comfort.

    Although they were not at their best, United at least avoided the same embarrassment they suffered against an Everton side reduced to 10 men even earlier in the game in November, when David Moyes’ side claimed victory.

    The result led to more chants backing interim manager Carrick as United consolidated their position in the top four.

  • EPL: Romero’s late goal rescues Spurs at Burnley

    EPL: Romero’s late goal rescues Spurs at Burnley

    Cristian Romero rescued a point for Tottenham Hotspur late on just as under-pressure head coach Thomas Frank faced further embarrassment against struggling Burnley at Turf Moor.

    Burnley were on the brink of recording their first Premier League win in 14 games at Turf Moor until captain Romero powered home an 89th-minute header.

    Frank, whose position has been under internal scrutiny at Spurs, bought time with a midweek Champions League win against Borussia Dortmund, but it remains to be seen if this draw makes his position any more secure.

    Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was outstanding with a string of fine saves, but the manner in which Spurs threatened to subside against Scott Parker’s struggling side left Frank facing the fury of his own fans once more.

    Spurs were on top in a scrappy first half, finally taking the lead after 38 minutes following a spell of pressure that pushed a passive, tentative Burnley back.

    Dubravka punched the air in defiant celebration after a superb double save from Wilson Odobert and Conor Gallagher, but was powerless when Van de Ven pounced to flash home a powerful finish.

    It was no more than Frank’s side deserved, but Spurs then switched off at the back in first-half stoppage time, allowing Axel Tuanzebe to sweep home Kyle Walker’s cross.

    Dubravka kept Spurs at bay, blocking Dominic Solanke’s header from Xavi Simons’ cross before diving to turn away Djed Spence’s long-range effort.

    Burnley then stunned Spurs by taking the lead 14 minutes from time, subsitute Lyle Foster scrambling home after his first effort had been saved by Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario.

    Spurs poured forward, the heroic Dubravka saving from Mathys Tel and Simons hitting the bar before Romero struck.

  • EPL: De Ligt scores late equaliser as Man Utd draw Spurs in thriller

    EPL: De Ligt scores late equaliser as Man Utd draw Spurs in thriller

    Matthijs de Ligt scored an equaliser deep into stoppage time to earn Manchester United a point in a Premier League thriller at Tottenham.

    In an astonishing climax to a game the visitors seemed to have control of, Brazilian striker Richarlison appeared to have won the game for Tottenham when he flicked Wilson Odobert’s long-range shot past Senne Lammens.

    But in the last of six minutes of injury time, with keeper Lammens up for a Manchester United corner, De Ligt found the net from an acute angle to give his side a point.

    There were disbelieving looks from both sides at the end.

    Richarlison was almost in tears, having jubilantly celebrated his goal, only to realise it had not proved to be the winner.

    Meanwhile, United head coach Ruben Amorim was equally stunned, having watched his side almost toss away a game they appeared to have control of.

    Bryan Mbeumo had put the visitors ahead in the first half, heading home Amad Diallo’s precise right-wing cross.

    Read Also: EPL: Amad’s late goal earn Man Utd point in Forest thriller

    When Lammens made excellent saves to deny Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven after the break, Tottenham looked to be heading for their third successive home Premier League defeat.

    However, the boos that accompanied Mathys Tel’s introduction for Xavi Simons midway through the second half turned to cheers when he swivelled on to a left wing-cross six minutes from time, evaded the attentions of De Ligt six and crashed a shot past Lammens.

    The relief inside the stadium was palable – but much more was still to come.

    Richarlison, the subject of so much criticism recently, thought he had won it. De Ligt had other ideas.

  • EPL: Spurs fight back from two down to draw Brighton

    EPL: Spurs fight back from two down to draw Brighton

    Tottenham fought back from two-goals down to secure a deserved point against Brighton.

    The Seagulls were second best for much of the match but found themselves 2-0 up after 31 minutes thanks to Yankuba Minteh’s early strike and Yasin Ayari’s powerful drive.

    However, Richarlison halved the deficit just before half-time when he stopped a shot by Mohammed Kudus before slotting in.

    Spurs dominated the second half but their finishing let them down as Richarlison and substitute Xavi Simons were both unable to make the most of promising opportunities.

    But the equaliser came eight minutes from time when Jan Paul van Hecke turned Kudus’ cross into his own net.

    Spurs then pushed for a winner as they looked to continue their impressive start to the season, but Brighton held on for the point.

  • Spurs agree season-long loan for PSG’s Kolo Muani

    Spurs agree season-long loan for PSG’s Kolo Muani

    Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a season-long loan deal for Paris St-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani.

    The 26-year-old has been linked with Premier League clubs for several months, with interest from Spurs, Manchester United, Chelsea and West Ham.

    He is set to move to Tottenham on transfer deadline day after personal terms were agreed with Thomas Frank’s side.

    Kolo Muani spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus, scoring eight goals in 16 Serie A games.

    The former Nantes and Eintracht Frankfurt forward joined PSG in September 2023 and has won two Ligue 1 titles.

    Kolo Muani also has 31 senior caps for France, scoring in the 2022 World Cup semi-final victory over Morocco and playing in the final defeat by Argentina.

    Read Also: Juventus to trade-off  Vlahovic, Muani for Osimhen

    Kolo Muani is set to be Tottenham’s fourth senior signing of the summer, following Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha and Xavi Simons.

    Along with wingers Kudus and Simons, centre-forward Kolo Muani could help form a new look strikeforce for Spurs as they prepare for a Champions League return.

    The signings come at the end of a window which has been difficult at times for Tottenham, with failed move for targets including Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, and Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze – who joined Arsenal instead.

    They are also looking to sign a central defender before Monday’s 19:00 BST deadline, with interest in Manchester City’s Manuel Akanji after a move for Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi failed.

    BBC

  • EPL: Bournemouth end Spurs’ unbeaten start

    EPL: Bournemouth end Spurs’ unbeaten start

    Evanilson’s early goal earned dominant Bournemouth a richly deserved victory at Tottenham, whose impressive Premier League start under Thomas Frank came to an unceremonious end.

    The Cherries were frustrated to be knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brentford in midweek but were full of energy and invention against Spurs, doing to their opponents what Frank’s side inflicted on Manchester City last weekend.

    As they did at home to Wolves last Saturday, Bournemouth took the lead with their first attack of the game as Marco Senesi picked out Evanilson, whose low shot looped off Cristian Romero and over goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

    The visitors should have been out of sight early in the second half after creating a succession of opportunities to add to their advantage, but a combination of poor finishing and smart goalkeeping helped keep Spurs in the game.

    Read Also: Bournemouth agree £25m deal for Liverpool’s Doak

    Antoine Semenyo headed narrowly over the crossbar five minutes after Evanilson’s opener, while David Brooks was denied by the crossbar early in the second half.

    The hosts’ first shot on target – a Lucas Bergvall drive from the edge of the box in the 68th minute – flew straight at Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, while Mathys Tel’s sweetly struck volley in second-half stoppage time was the closest they came to salvaging a point they scarcely deserved.

    The win moves Bournemouth level on points with Spurs, with both teams having won two of their opening three league matches.

  • EPL: Richarlison brace leads Spurs to victory against Burnley

    EPL: Richarlison brace leads Spurs to victory against Burnley

    Two goals from Richarlison, including a stunning scissor kick, helped Thomas Frank win his first Premier League match in charge of Tottenham as his Spurs side proved too good for newly promoted Burnley.

    Brazil forward Richarlison only scored four Premier League goals in 2024-25 but was superb as he showed the form that convinced Spurs to pay £60m to sign him from Everton three years ago.

    He scored the first league goal in the Frank era when he did superbly to spin and control a shot on the turn after only 10 minutes, following excellent work on the right from Mohammed Kudus on his Spurs league debut following his £55m summer move from West Ham.

    The two linked up again for Spurs’ second, Kudus hanging up a cross from the byeline and Richarlison acrobatically volleying in, with the goal repeatedly shown and enjoyed by the home fans on the stadium’s four big screens.

    Read Also: EPL: Richarlison scores again as Spurs move into top four

    It got even better for Tottenham in the 66th minute as Richarlison started the move – the ball fell for Pape Matar Sarr and he played it through for Brennan Johnson to race clear and provide a clinical finish.

    Richarlison was given a standing ovation by the home crowd when he was replaced in the 71st minute by Dominic Solanke, who almost grabbed a fourth but shot narrowly wide.

    Former Brentford boss Frank only became Spurs manager in June, replacing the sacked Ange Postecoglou – who was dismissed 16 days after guiding the club to their first trophy in 17 years when they beat Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League final.

  • Spurs condemn ‘cowards’ for racially abusing Tel

    Spurs condemn ‘cowards’ for racially abusing Tel

    Tottenham have said they are “disgusted” by the racial abuse received by forward Mathys Tel following their defeat by Paris St-Germain in the Uefa Super Cup.

    The club, who lost 4-3 on penalties after letting slip a two-goal lead, said people who had sent abusive messages to Tel on social media were “nothing but cowards”.

    Tel, 20, came on as a substitute in the 79th minute and was one of two Spurs players who failed to convert from the spot in the penalty shootout.

    “Mathys showed bravery and courage to step forward and take a penalty, yet those who abuse him are nothing but cowards – hiding behind anonymous usernames and profiles to spout their abhorrent views,” Tottenham said.

    “We will work with the authorities and social media platforms to take the strongest possible action against any individual we are able to identify.

    “We stand with you, Mathys.”

    Spurs’ statement comes after England defender Jess Carter revealed she had been the target of racist abuse during Euro 2025 last month.

    As a result, the Lionesses stopped the anti-racism gesture of taking a knee before matches as they argued it was “clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism”.

    On Tuesday, Carter said she feared her England team-mate Lauren James would suffer “astronomical” racist abuse if she had been the only player to have missed a penalty in their Euro quarter-final shootout against Sweden.

    Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were subjected to racist abuse in July 2021 in the aftermath of the Euro 2020 final, after all three missed penalties as England lost to Italy.

    “If you’re a black player, it would be totally understandable to think, ‘Why would I want to take a penalty?’ That’s the state of the game right now, and the sad fact is, it’s nothing new,” anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out said.

    Kick it Out said accountability from both the offenders and social media companies is “not being met”.

    “Football bodies, authorities, and the regulator Ofcom, must come together to accelerate a plan that better protects players,” the charity added.

    “Their welfare should always be paramount, and we stand with Mathys Tel and all those who have suffered this continuing, racist abuse.”

    In June, tennis players – including Britain’s Katie Boulter – demanded more action from social media companies to stop “dangerous” online abuse after Boulter said receiving abusive content and death threats had become “the norm” for athletes.

    Read Also: From ruins to renewal: The transformation of ABSU’s hostel

    Europa League winners Tottenham led 2-0 after 84 minutes and were minutes away from claiming their second trophy in three months before PSG fought back, levelling the match when Goncalo Ramos headed in a 94th-minute equaliser.

    Spurs defender Micky van de Ven saw his spot-kick saved before Frenchman Tel sent his shot wide. Nuno Mendes held his nerve to convert the winning penalty for PSG.

    Tottenham signed Tel on a permanent deal, worth around £30m, in June after he joined the club on loan in January.

    He made 20 appearances for the club last season, scoring three goals and was an unused substitute for their victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final.

    BBC

  • UEFA Super Cup: Things to know as PSG takes on Spurs

    UEFA Super Cup: Things to know as PSG takes on Spurs

    Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur will lock horns on Wednesday night in the 2025 UEFA Super Cup at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland.

    The match pits the reigning UEFA Champions League winners against the Europa League champions, with both sides looking to claim early-season silverware and set the tone for their upcoming campaigns.

    Road to the Super Cup

    PSG secured their place after lifting the Champions League trophy for the first time in their history last season, defeating Manchester City in the final. Luis Enrique’s side enjoyed a stellar European campaign, blending defensive solidity with explosive attacking play led by Kylian Mbappé.

    Spurs, under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, clinched the Europa League title after beating Atalanta in a thrilling final. It was their first European trophy since 1984 and a statement of intent from a squad rejuvenated under the Australian manager.

    Recent Form and Preparations

    PSG come into the match after an unbeaten pre-season tour, including victories over Barcelona and Napoli. Their squad remains strong despite summer transfer speculation surrounding several key players.

    Tottenham’s build-up has been equally impressive, with new signings quickly bedding in and the team showing attacking fluidity. However, questions remain over their defensive consistency, something PSG could exploit.

    Key Storylines to Watch

    Mbappé vs. Spurs Backline – Mbappé’s pace and finishing will be a major threat to a Tottenham defence still finding its best shape.

    Midfield Battle – Spurs’ James Maddison and Yves Bissouma will look to outmaneuver PSG’s midfield trio, led by Vitinha and Manuel Ugarte.

    Trophy Motivation – For PSG, it’s about cementing European dominance; for Spurs, it’s about proving last season’s triumph wasn’t a one-off.

    Possible Line-Ups

    Paris Saint-Germain (4-3-3)

    Gianluigi Donnarumma – Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Lucas Beraldo, Nuno Mendes – Vitinha, Manuel Ugarte, Warren Zaïre-Emery – Ousmane Dembélé, Gonçalo Ramos, Kylian Mbappé

    Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1)

    Guglielmo Vicario – Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie – Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr – Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Son Heung-min – Richarlison

    Match Details

    Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2025

    Kick-off:  20:00 local time

    Venue: National Stadium, Warsaw, Poland

    Read Also: PSG leave  Donnarumma  out for UEFA Super Cup

    Referee: To be confirmed

    What’s at stake

    The UEFA Super Cup is more than just a curtain-raiser to the European season. For PSG, it’s a chance to confirm their place among the continent’s elite. For Spurs, it’s an opportunity to make a statement on the biggest stage and add another major trophy to their collection.

    PSG vs Tottenham – Betting Tips (UEFA Super Cup)

    PSG to Win – Superior attacking depth.

    Both Teams to Score (Yes) – Spurs can hurt PSG, but may concede multiple.

    Over 2.5 Goals – Open, attacking styles.

    Anytime Scorer: Mbappé – Big-game threat.

    Correct Score (Risky): PSG 3–1 – Likely pattern based on form.

  • Spurs open talks with Brentford over head coach Frank

    Spurs open talks with Brentford over head coach Frank

    Tottenham have opened talks with Brentford over their head coach Thomas Frank following the sacking of Ange Postecoglou.

    The Dane, 51, has emerged as a leading contender to replace Postecoglou.

    Brentford would be entitled to compensation for Frank, with sources indicating it would cost Tottenham more than £10m to extricate him from his contract which runs until 2027.

    That figure could rise depending on how many members of staff Frank decides to bring with him if he is named Spurs boss.

    Read Also: Spurs part way with Postecoglou

    Postecoglou was sacked on Friday, 16 days after leading Tottenham to victory in the Europa League final, their first major trophy for 17 years.

    However, it came towards the end of their worst Premier League season, as they finished 17th after losing 22 of their 38 matches.

    Frank took over at Brentford in 2018 and guided them into the Premier League, winning the Championship play-off final at Wembley in 2021 and establishing them as a top-flight club on a small budget.

    Brentford finished 10th in the 2024-25 Premier League season, seven places and 18 points above Spurs.