On another day, Tottenham Hotspur would have left Manchester United with all the spoils.
It’s been the story of Spurs’ season so far, sadly. The north London side dominated the opening exchanges at Old Trafford. Just as they did against Aston Villa before the international break. Yet they have just one point to show for their efforts, and that courtesy of a late Dominic Solanke equaliser on Saturday.
They managed 1.56 Expected Goals against United over the weekend compared to United’s 0.77. It was a similar case against Villa as Roberto De Zerbi’s men managed 1.22 xG to the Villans’ 1.17.
In this article, we’ll cover:
Spurs’ issue this season has been hitting the back of the net. Saturday was their season in a microcosm. Solanke had two decent chances, while Mohammed Kudus fired an effort just wide before United took the initiative through Bryan Mbeumo’s 73rd-minute opener.
That Spurs looked as threatening as they did was again largely in part to Savio’s impact.
Savio’s role vs Man Utd
The capital outfit completed the signing of Savio over the summer. It marked the culmination of a 12-month hunt for the Brazilian, who had fallen out of favour at Manchester City. His constant ‘Twerking for Tottenham’ across social media finally reaped the rewards.
And while Spurs are fluffing their lines – only next week’s opponents Coventry (1) have scored fewer goals (3) this season – Savio is doing everything in his power to carve opponents apart.
Against United, no Spurs player created more chances than Savio (2). He completed more take ons (5) than any other player in Saturday’s 1-1 draw. The 22-year-old ranks top for both metrics – 11 and 18, respectively – for De Zerbi’s side in England’s top tier this term.
That the latter haul ranks ninth for Spurs since the start of last season. He’s bringing the key spark down the flanks that has been found wanting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Attacking style suits De Zerbi’s approach
This is crucial in De Zerbi’s 4-2-3-1 setup. The Italian looks to bait the opposition press before springing forward quickly. He needs the widemen in the system to remain high and wide. The Italian also needs the forwards to thrive in one-on-one situations, which Savio does incredibly well.
Combined with his versatility, he’s quickly proven a valuable member of this Spurs squad. Admittedly, Savio is more effective off the left flank, and they look more threatening with Kudus down the right, that he’s able to cover both wings is an added bonus for De Zerbi.
Crucial, too, is the way with which Savio seeks to create for teammates. Again, a staple of the way De Zerbi demands his team to hurt opponents is to rely on cutbacks or low crosses across the box. The onus is on Savio to get on the outside of a marker, getting to the byline before pulling back for a teammate.
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On numerous occasions on Saturday, Savio did just this. The Kudus chance in the first half. The Solanke effort in the second. The low ball into a dangerous area that needed a last-gasp Luke Shaw clearance that meant Solanke was unable to punish United. These were key moments that accentuated Savio’s importance.
Granted, Kudus and Solanke were unable to maximise these opportunities. However, Savio continues to get the better of opposition full-backs. In time, these chances will be tucked away by this misfiring Spurs attack.
Spurs’ bright spark down the flanks
And as Savio continues to grow in confidence, this creates space in the final third for teammates. Managers are forced to commit men to minimise the winger’s influence down the flank. This in itself means that the overlapping full-backs have the chance to stretch teams. Unsurprisingly, the bulk of Spurs’ attacks (44%) came down the left flank at United on Saturday.
Many scoffed at Spurs’ decision to spend up to £85m to sign Savio. There is no way to put a positive spin on two goals and nine assists across two Premier League seasons for City. The youngster is yet to directly contribute to a league goal in the 2026/27 campaign.
However, in the opening weeks of his spell in the capital, Savio is proving just why Spurs coughed up the cash to secure his services. In time, the goals and assists hauls will rise. He is, after all, doing everything he can to drag his side to a first win of the season.