Breaking Nwes: ‘Richarlison turned soft by Tottenham after Everton and Watford’.
After Tottenham’s defeat to Liverpool in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, former teammate Troy Deeney slammed Richarlison.
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur team struggled at Anfield, losing 4-0 on Thursday (6 February).
Liverpool recovered from a 1-0 deficit in the first leg to get to the competition’s final.
Virgil van Dijk elbowed Richarlison shortly after kick-off, making the game difficult for him.
Tottenham suffered another setback when the forward sustained an injury before half-time, just weeks after returning from a lengthy layoff.
Troy Deeney stunned by Richarlison under Ange Postecoglou.
Deeney is astonished by the Brazilian’s problems, given that he remembers playing with him when the two were Watford teammates.
On talkSPORT, Jim White addressed the former striker about Richarlison’s current situation at Tottenham.
Deeney responded to the question by saying, “I was thinking about this on the drive home yesterday.” So I remember Richarlison from his time at Watford.
“He was nasty, and when I say nasty, I mean he wanted it. This was everything to him. He’s definitely from Brazil, which means a whole lifestyle shift; I’ve got to make this work.
“And he dragged through a lot of games, a great player. But his resolve to play week after week, I believe he played for 18 months straight, no respite, nothing, all the way through.
“Then he goes to Everton, which is obviously in a relegation battle, and the ethos there is that you have to work hard and do what you have to do. He performed admirably there before being transferred to Tottenham Hotspur.
“Since joining Spurs, he has been injured more than he has at the two teams I just described.
“Then I see him today, and I see a gentleness in him that I have never noticed before. He went down with Van Dijk, a little elbow, like if he’d been shot.
After Alex Crook indicated that the Liverpool centre-back was rightfully not sent off for the challenge, Deeney responded, “Not a chance.
“Anyway, he gets down. I’m looking at him and thinking, ‘That’s not you. “That is not the kid I remember.”
Richarlison’s injury is a huge issue for Spurs
Football Insider’s Verdict
Postecoglou has already dealt with a significant number of injuries this season.
As a result, Tottenham cannot afford to lose Richarlison as readily as Deeney believes he will.
With Dominic Solanke among those sidelined, Spurs should look to the Brazilian to lead the line given their existing offensive alternatives.
But, as mentioned above, he has gone soft, and he cannot be relied on to deal with the inevitable attention he will receive from defenders while attempting to play that position.
That will be a key issue for Tottenham as they seek a return on their significant investment in him.
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