In a move that went rather under the radar last summer, Kieran Trippier made his Tottenham exit, and joined Atletico Madrid of all sides.
It was certainly a shock to the system considering Diego Simeone has built his Spanish side around defensive diligence and backs to the wall doggedness – they conceded the least amount of goals in La Liga last season for example. Not necessarily the kind of characteristics you would have associated with Trippier.
After all, even the usually docile Mauricio Pochettino seemed to have had enough of his high-profile mistakes, and chastised him in public. Ahead of a Champions League clash against PSV, he said: “Kieran needs to improve in the defensive situation because in the last few games you have seen that we conceded a few actions.”
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In the end, Trippier completed a £20m move to Atletico, and on Wednesday night, delivered a reminder of why it was such a mistake to let him go.
In the Spanish side’s impressive victory over Liverpool in the Champions League, Trippier had the unenviable task of having to stop Sadio Mane in his tracks – the Senegal international who has smashed in 18 goals across all competitions this season.
But he did so with aplomb. As per Sofascore, the Liverpool forward had five attempts on goal, with four of them off target – Trippier playing his part in ensuring he didn’t get the space or time to pick his spot. The former Spurs ace also did well in the one v one situations, and more than held his own. Whilst he was ably helped out by his teammates who were willing to help out, he restricted Mane to just a 50% dribble completion.
In fact, Mane averaged a measly 64% pass accuracy (by far the worst of any Liverpool player on the pitch), whilst the £135m-rated star also lost possession 31 times. Trippier locked down one of the world’s most feared wide players, and provided a glimpse of just how good defensively he can be.
With Spurs having to see Serge Aurier continue to make howlers on a regular basis and give away penalties, and Jose Mourinho even opting to play Japhet Tanganga at right wing-back, Trippier reminded everyone that Pochettino may have made a big mistake in letting him go.
Meanwhile, Spurs’ swoop for this 14-assist ace could spell the end for this Pochettino signing.