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Tom Coley

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg makes 'crazy' Richarlison admission with Tottenham advice Conte will love

Tottenham's squad looks together. They're a side with great individual and collective relationships on and off the pitch and Antonio Conte is fostering an atmosphere that is helping to generate results, even when performances haven't been at their best.

The Italian was so happy with the 2-1 win against Fulham that he went as far as to say it was the best performance from his team this season. This comes despite a 4-1 opening day win, a battling and resilient draw at Stamford Bridge and a comprehensive 2-0 away win.

Perhaps what made the victory even better was holding out at 2-1. Spurs should have been more than two goals clear but still managed to get to the win in circumstances that even six months ago they might have struggled to pull themselves through.

READ MORE: Tottenham's 25-man Champions League squad revealed but Antonio Conte still has decision to make

In order to do this they have moved away from underperforming squad players and allowed Conte freedom and backing in the transfer market in a way that previous managers have been unable to convince Daniel Levy to support them. It keeps the feeling of imminent success and improvement on the horizon.

In no small part is this also down to the gradual introduction of the club's new players. The summer signings have been slowly integrated and now the squad has a freshness about it. Included in this and possibly right at the forefront of it is Richarlison.

The Brazilian was the most high-profile and expensive of the club's summer deals and also the one that provided the most intrigue. He is an energetic and controversial figure for Premier League fans but slots perfectly into a group of players that are adored by their own supporters and detested by most of the rest. It's what he loves and it's a fact that his teammates are getting on board with too.

Speaking after the victory against Fulham, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg said, "Rich is amazing. I don't know how to say it but I am happy that he is at Spurs. I train with him as well. He's a fantastic boy with a fantastic mindset. Crazy, but in a good way. He really deserves what comes his way but he has to stay focused and concentrated. Well done to him, honestly."

Richarlison was unlucky not to score his first Tottenham goal with his strike being ruled out for offside, but he did lay on for Hojbjerg to open the scoring in the first half. The pair appear close but it's the 25-year-old's never-relenting workrate that has his own players admiring him.

"In the end I put a long, long ball down by the corner and he got a throw in," said Hojbjerg. "I know this is a small detail and in the end it doesn't make a great player but it's things where he is going to achieve things that are coming his way and you saw that again today.

"The way he goes around with the ball, his positioning, I'm gutted he didn't get the goal in the end but it doesn't take anything anyway from him and his performance. He still has a lot to learn but we are happy to have him here at Tottenham and he needs to keep improving."

Richarlison may have missed out on bagging his first official goal for Spurs but if his performances can remain high, then he will be able to forge many more chances and the goals will undoubtedly come. As for now, his off the ball work and hard running will continue to help build a bond with his teammates and the improving atmosphere at Tottenham will grow.

Richarlison is a big part of the new era under Conte and the way his new team already speak about it shows they know as much.

READ NEXT:

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