On Sunday night, Tottenham earned a much-needed point away at Man City thanks in large part to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s contribution once again. The Dane, who was a fixture in the Spurs starting lineup for the previous three seasons, has had to adjust to a new role this season under Ange Postecoglou.
Having only started two Premier League games in 2023–24, Hojbjerg will have to make do with minutes off the bench. While this is obviously not the role he wants at Tottenham, it is working out well for the head coach, who is working with a gamechanger. failing to make the team at the Etihad Stadium because Postecoglou chose Bryan Gil to start in attack instead of pushing Dejan Kulusevski forward and bringing the former Southampton player.
Hojbjerg, a Southampton player brought in to bolster the midfield, replaced the Spaniard at the half.
Tottenham merely needed more discipline in the middle of the field after City had controlled play and had several opportunities to put the game out of reach. When he entered the game at the beginning of the second half, the 28-year-old gave precisely that.
He positioned himself to disrupt the hosts’ play and cause frustration, and he made excellent use of the ball to assist Tottenham in getting back into the game. Postecoglou was very pleased with his performance and gave him high marks for it in his press conference after the game.
He remarked, “I think it helped,” during Hojbjerg’s introduction. “In the second half, Pierre was outstanding, in my opinion. His experience there made me believe that we all shared a greater sense of conviction about our football, simply passing the ball without second-guessing or hesitating as we did in the first half.”
Hojbjerg, who was strongly rumored to be leaving N17 in the summer, has made a significant impact off the bench this season before. Having now accomplished this several times, he is starting to take on the role of a super sub for Postecoglou because of his ability to either shift the tide or help the team cross the finish line.
Even though he started the season off the bench against Manchester United and Bournemouth, his contribution against Liverpool was significant because he upped the tempo right away with his passing when he entered the game in the ninetieth minute. But he was probably most noticeable at the away match against Luton Town, where he came on at halftime to help Tottenham win 1-0 after Yves Bissouma was sent off.
Hojbjerg was again praised by his manager in the build-up to the game after earning his first Premier League start of the season in the home game against Fulham and putting on a strong display that convinced everyone he ought to play more.
The 58-year-old clarified, “I don’t think there was ever a moment during the transfer window where I thought Pierre would move. “I talked to him and he said he was here to help and wanted to be a part of the project we were working on.
“It seems sense that someone who performs frequently would have desired to play more, but in the end, our shows have been excellent, so he has had to wait his turn.
In many of the games that we have needed to shore up late or that we have won late, he has also been crucial. He’s not the only one who has helped us; in fact, he hasn’t done much at all. He has played a pivotal role in our journey.
In many of the games that we have needed to shore up late or that we have won late, he has also been crucial. He’s not the only one who has helped us; in fact, he hasn’t done much at all. He has played a pivotal role in our journey. If we relied only on our starting XI, we wouldn’t be in this situation.
“We try to instill in every guy the idea that just because they are disappointed about not starting doesn’t mean they aren’t playing. At some point, you will still be playing, and what you do with those minutes will advance both your personal goals and our success.
He is professional and adamant about getting on the team with Pierre. Over the course of the 38-game season, he puts himself in a good light every day, so eventually, all of these guys will get a chance. It is up to them what they do with that.
“In the meantime, what is important is if they want to keep getting opportunities, they have to train well and when they do play, whether they start or not, they contribute to the team.”
Hojbjerg, who was a major asset to the team at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, has more than proven himself worthy of a starting position when West Ham visits at home on Thursday. The Dane might join forces with and take Gil’s place in the side Bissouma and Giovani Lo Celso in midfield, thus seeing Kulusevski move back into the front three in the process.
However, Postecoglou may have Pape Matar Sarr to consider for selection once again with the Senegal international potentially returning from his recent injury come the end of this week. When it comes to regaining his starting spot in the Tottenham XI, all Hojbjerg can do right now is keep delivering top performances off the bench and hope that results in him coming into the side for their next fixture.
Regular game time could possibly be there for him over the busy festive period, with his minutes then very likely to step up come January when Bissouma and Sarr depart for the Africa Cup of Nations with Mali and Senegal respectively. Hojbjerg’s current Tottenham position may kind of be an unwanted one given his previous role at the club but he still has a major part to play for Postecoglou if the first 14 games of the Premier League season are anything to go by.
