The final result at Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday evening could have been rather different had two notable chances in Sporting CP's box fallen to a different Tottenham player. Going in at the break level at 0-0, moments after the restart Spurs had two quickfire opportunities to take the lead.
On both occasions it was Emerson Royal who was on the end of Harry Kane's ball after getting into promising positions in the box. In the right place at the far post to get his head to the striker's deep cross from the left, Sporting goalkeeper Antonio Adan needed to get a good hand to the ball to stop it from finding the corner.
Seconds later a quick free-kick from Kane picked out the Brazilian's run but this time the goalkeeper saved low down with his feet to deny the 23-year-old again. They were notable chances for the Lilywhites and the ball could have been in the net had the players' roles been reversed.
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That is no slight on Emerson at all as he is a defensive player and he doesn't have the experience or knowhow of putting the ball in the net on a regular basis like Kane or his attacking teammates. Doing what Conte has asked of him by getting in those inviting positions at the back post to get on the end of the ball, it was unfortunately the final action that was lacking.
Tottenham fans will certainly wonder what would have been the outcome had it been Matt Doherty in the team instead of Emerson or perhaps even Djed Spence. Recapturing the form he displayed at Wolves from February onwards last campaign, Doherty's season was frustratingly cut short after sustaining a knee injury at Aston Villa at the start of April.
The Republic of Ireland international has not been able to gain his place back in the team since but the Spurs head coach did indicate ahead of the recent win over Fulham that he has seen a "good improvement" from the player on the training ground. However, he did also state that if he isn't picking him it means "others give me more guarantees".
"Yeah but he had serious injury and honestly struggled a lot to recover good form to be fit," explained the 53-year-old. "Now I think compared to the last game he played vs Roma in these two weeks, twenty days I have seen good improvement about himself.
"You said last season he became first choice for that role but I want to win and I try to pick the best starting XI. Now if I'm not picking him it means others give me more guarantees. I trust him, I trust in all my players but they know very well that I want to win. I want to win and I pick the best starting XI in every games."
Having to watch on from the bench in Tottenham's first eight games of the 2022/23 season, the 30-year-old has been introduced late on in two matches but it was literally for a matter of minutes against Southampton and Marseille. Emerson has nudged ahead of his competitor in the pecking order as a result and has been an ever-present in the XI this term under Conte so far, with Spence third in line and needing to bide his time as he looks to adapt to life in the Premier League after jumping up from the Championship.
The ex-Real Betis man will always have his critics due to his struggles in the final third but he more often than not is good defensively and Conte quite clearly sees something in him if he is starting on a weekly basis. Admitting that he needs to rotate his team over the coming weeks due to the packed schedule but so far resisting the temptation of alternating his right wing-backs, the opportunity for Doherty to get his chance could come on Saturday evening at home to Leicester City.
Certainly needing to freshen things up after pretty much going with the same XI in the past couple of games, Emerson's role in Sporting's two stoppage-time goals will also be highlighted. Beaten in the air with Kane for Paulinho's near-post header, Arthur then breezed past him way too easily as he forced his way into the box to prod the ball home beyond Hugo Lloris for their second of the evening.
Grasping his opportunity with both hands back in February and delivering goals and assists on a consistent basis, if Doherty can do what Emerson didn't against Sporting CP when Leicester City come to town on Saturday evening then he could well make the position his own again after the international break. However, that's all going to come down to whether Conte selects him as part of his team to face the Foxes.
Changes are needed after Tuesday's dismal evening in Lisbon, with Doherty one of them when Tottenham return to the pitch looking to right the wrong of their first defeat of the campaign.
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