‘There are no patterns of play!’ – Tottenham squad becoming concerned by Nuno Espirito Santo’s tactics

Under-pressure boss Nuno Espirito Santo is facing a fight to win over his Tottenham squad with a number of players concerned by his tactical approach, according to reports.

The north Londoners started the Premier League campaign with three straight victories and topped the table before the first international break, but their fortunes have shifted dramatically since then.

Defeat to Arsenal at the weekend means Spurs have lost their last three league matches by an aggregate score of 9-1, while they have only netted two open-play goals across their first six games.

Spurs’ players, and supporters, had rejected previous manager Jose Mourinho’s dour, pragmatic approach and chairman Daniel Levy said his replacement would bring back ‘free-flowing, attacking and entertaining’ football.

But Nuno appears to be cut from a very similar cloth to his compatriot and Tottenham are still largely taking a reactive, back-foot approach in matches, while their attacking stats – chances created, shots on target, Expected Goals – are amongst the worst in the Premier League.

According to The Athletic, it is not only supporters who are beginning to get frustrated with the lack of attractive, adventurous football on show, with the players also not convinced by their new manager’s ideas.

There is a concern among the squad that ‘there are no patterns of play’ to the way in which they construct attacks, while the manager’s philosophy is ‘unclear’.

To add to the issues, Nuno is described as being ‘distant’ and ‘uncommunicative’ and has not established the same rapport with his players or staff around the training complex as Mauricio Pochettino or even Mourinho did.

Nuno was asked about the type of football Spurs fans expect at a press conference on Wednesday, replying: ‘I’ve been told and everybody knows. It’s football, everybody wants to play good. Everybody wants to play offensively, everybody wants to score. This is what we chase.

‘Sometimes it’s not possible but we are aware that this is what we want to do but it takes a building process to achieve it and we are trying.

‘The criticism is normal. Everybody knows how this industry works. When you don’t play good, when you don’t perform and results don’t go your way, criticism is something you have to deal with. We understand it and it’s up to us to react and change it.’

MORE : Tottenham fan group wants urgent talks with board after Arsenal defeat

MORE : Jamie Carragher raises string of doubts over Nuno Espirito Santo as Tottenham manager

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