‘4/10’, ‘Awful defending’: Tottenham player slammed by media after ‘frustrating’ Champions League display last night

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Tottenham Hotspur defender Emerson Royal has been slammed by the media for a ‘frustrating’ display in the Champions League last night.

Antonio Conte’s suffered their first defeat of the new season after a 2-0 loss to Sporting Lisbon.

Spurs conceded two goals in the final minutes of the game and Emerson was nutmegged by Arthur Gomes for the second.

It was another frustrating night for the Brazilian in an attacking sense too as he wasted some decent openings for Conte’s side.

And the media have criticised the 23-year-old for his poor display last night. 

Emerson slammed by media after ‘frustrating’ display

The Evening Standard gave Emerson a five out of 10 for his performance and labelled his night ‘frustrating’. The outlet said he failed to make the most of two chances that came his way in the second-half. 

Emerson received the same rating from Football.London and they said he played a part in both Lisbon goals. 

“Found himself in the box in the first half when a Perisic long throw fell his way but he was falling and couldn’t quite prod it over the keeper,” Football.London states.

“Early in second half he saw a header and a volley saved by the keeper from Kane balls into this path.

“Same old story with his attacking bluntness and at the back he was beaten in the air with Kane for Paulinho’s header and then Gomes skipped past with a nutmeg far too easily.” 

90 Min handed the Brazilian an even worse rating of four out of 10. The outlet said he had a ‘few chances’ to open the scoring and was at fault for Sporting’s second goal due to ‘awful defending’. 

Emerson is first-choice under Conte at the moment, despite added competition from summer signing Djed Spence.

Aside from last night, the Brazilian has been reliable defensively but has failed to provide an attacking threat.

Conte’s system relies heavily on his wing-backs delivering this threat, but Emerson seems unable to do so.

It will be interesting to see if Conte now decides to give Matt Doherty or Spence a chance after Emerson’s poor showing last night.