Atletico Madrid were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League this week with a surprise defeat at the hands of the youthful RB Leipzig. Led by 33-year-old manager Julian Nagelsmann, goals from 22-year-old Dani Olmo and 21-year-old Tyler Adams either side of a João Félix penalty, sealed it for the Germans.
Tottenham Hotspur were victorious at the same stage last season, with Kieran Trippier in their side. It was not to be the same story for the right-back this year though, pinned back by Leipzig’s fluid movement and undone at the vital moment. Trippier was caught out of position as Angeliño railroaded down the left-hand side, cutting it back for Adams to score.
It sparked much criticism from Tottenham supporters, which resembled the opening of old wounds. There was ridicule for Trippier online, condemning a deficiency in his game that was all too apparent during his time at the club.
As is sometimes the case with players who have left for pastures new, the vitriol seemed a little harsher than it perhaps should have been from some corners. Jose Mourinho was up against Christopher Nkunku for most of the evening, a player who has truly blossomed under Nagelsmann this season.
Trippier meanwhile has performed admirably in Diego Simeone’s rigid 4-4-2, but in arguably their most important fixture of the season, the Argentine was left wanting from his entire team, not just the solitary Englishman. Trippier – and Atletico – struggled to make inroads down the right-hand side. They failed to register any real dominance in the final third, aside from set-piece opportunities, until the introduction of João Félix.
On one side of the defence, Renan Lodi created five opportunities for Atletico. On the other, Trippier managed none, but that was clearly Atletico’s brief. They tried to limit the opportunities coming down the left flank during the first half and largely were successful. No Atletico player made more clearances than Trippier, and no player on the pitch managed more interceptions, according to Opta.
He may have misplaced more than a handful of passes, and left too much space on his wing at the crucial point in the game, but by no means was it a poor performance.
By comparison, Tottenham have endured a variety of defensive setups this season, many of which came about largely due to a dilemma at right-back. Serge Aurier has been the incumbent for the most part, but young Japhet Tanganga has been pigeon-holed into a right-back role on occasion.
The suspicion has been that Aurier, who has endured a difficult season off the pitch following the death of his brother, is not entirely trusted by Jose Mourinho, and it is not hard to see why. Against RB Leipzig – the same opponent – Aurier struggled enormously, particularly in the second leg when two early goals the Frenchman was partly at fault for all but ended Spurs’ hopes of progressing beyond the Last 16.
Trippier has responded well to some very hands-on, structured coaching at Atletico this season and the suggestion that Spurs would have been better off with Trippier at right-back is not beyond the realms of possibility.
Football supporter sentiment, particularly towards former players, tends to be increasingly reactionary nowadays. Trippier did no worse than Serge Aurier against RB Leipzig, and there are plenty of other occasions this season when Aurier did not exactly cover himself in glory either.
Spurs remain in the market for a right-back and begin their season in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League. Atletico will likely finish in the top three again in La Liga next season, and Trippier will probably be in the frame until his contract expires in 2022.
