Micah Richards expressed his empathy for Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier following their defeat on Saturday. The former footballer turned pundit acknowledged Dier’s commendable defensive efforts throughout the majority of the game.
Richards noted that while Dier, alongside Ben Davies, played well, the absence of the usual formidable defensive duo of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven became apparent in crucial moments. Speaking on the podcast, Richards remarked, “I just thought they lacked something.”
Despite recognizing the solid defensive performance from Dier and Davies for a significant portion of the game, Richards pointed out the challenge they faced in the absence of Romero and Van De Ven during crucial junctures. He stated, “I felt a little bit sorry for Eric Dier because they actually did defend well for large parts of the game, but in the key moments, when you have Romero and Van De Ven and you have that partnership, to come in and you have Davies and Dier, it was so difficult.”
Richards emphasized that Tottenham struggled to cope with the late-game pressure, leading to their inability to secure a victory. He explained, “They just couldn’t hold on.”
Looking ahead, the pundit highlighted that the coming weeks and months will present a significant test for Ange Postecoglou’s extended squad. The absence of key defensive players adds an extra layer of challenge for Tottenham, and how they navigate this period will undoubtedly shape their performance in the upcoming matches.