Tottenham's style of play under Antonio Conte has been a big talking point in recent months. Not exactly easy on the eye and perceived by some as rather negative compared to other teams, Spurs fans would love nothing more than to see their team winning games playing attractive, free-flowing football.
Conte and his Spurs side have demonstrated that this is possible, notably hitting five against Everton, Norwich City and Newcastle United and four away at Leeds United and Aston Villa last season. Tottenham have been unable to reach the levels they showed in the final few months of 2021/22 this season but the hope is that it will all come together in the second part of the campaign.
Dejan Kulusevski's return from injury should help matters, with the Swede looking incredibly sharp following his return to Premier League action last month. Another aspect of Tottenham's style of play that many have pointed out is their lack of a high press, especially compared to the past.
READ MORE: Tottenham contract talks with 'happy' Antonio Conte amid Pedro Porro links and academy concern
Impressing during the first few years of Mauricio Pochettino's tenure with Harry Kane and Co giving opposition defenders no time at all on the ball, Spurs' approach in the years since has changed. Still having players in the squad such as Kane and Son capable of playing this way if Conte wants to make a big change, the 2022 World Cup has highlighted that the head coach actually has another two in his ranks who could give their opponents a real headache with their high pressing.
Data from FIFA (via @VennAnalysis) has Tottenham duo Richarlison and Ivan Perisic in the top 20 in this year's World Cup for defensive pressures applied. Defensive pressure is defined by FIFA as "an action by an out-of-possession player to close down the player in possession of the ball or a possible receiving option".
Richarlison, who saw Brazil crash out of the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday, is currently in eighth after making a total of 212 defensive pressures. Perisic, on the other hand, is four places behind his Tottenham teammate, with a total of 198. The Croat could quite easily surpass Richarlison by the end of the tournament as Croatia have two games left after reaching the semi-finals following their penalty shootout victory over Brazil.
As things stand at present, Morocco dominate the top four with Azzedine Ounahi (321), Selim Amallah (258), Youssef En-Nesyri (256) and Hakim Ziyech (245) riding high at the top of the charts. Richarlison also features when it comes to defensive pressures applied per 90 as he is in joint eighth with Lee Jae-sung, Joel Campbell and En-Nesyri on 57, with Perisic not making the top 20 for per 90 stats.
Japan's Daizen Maeda tops the charts on 89, with his fellow countryman Ritsu Doan coming in second on 70. Tottenham have the players to play a high press if they wish, but all that rests on Conte changing his style of football.
READ NEXT:
Spence and Doherty answer Conte demand, White role - 5 things spotted in Tottenham vs Motherwell
Tottenham player ratings vs Motherwell: Doherty double, Kulusevski great as Spence and Gil shine
The reason why Emerson, Sessegnon, Lucas, Lenglet and Forster missed Tottenham's friendly
Tottenham vs Motherwell first half ratings: Kulusevski, Doherty and Gil score as Spence shines
Daniel Levy and Tottenham handed January transfer windfall after FIFA World Cup decision
