'Getting better by the day': Media hails Spurs midfielder's display v Marseille

Tottenham Hotspur got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start against Marseille at N17.

Spurs laboured for much of the game, but did enough to get over the line thanks to Richarlison’s second-half brace.

Tottenham were handed a reprieve early in the second half when Chancel Mbemba received a straight red card.

The Marseille defender brought Son Heung-min down when through on goal, and was duly sent off.

Spurs looked brighter as the second half went on, with substitute Dejan Kulusevski injecting some pace.

And then, Tottenham made the breakthrough in the 76th minute, Richarlison heading home from Ivan Perisic’s delivery.

The Brazilian made it two just five minutes later, this time nodding home from a Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg cross.

Though Richarlison rightly got the headlines, other Tottenham players earned plaudits for their displays.

One of those was Hojbjerg, who several media outlets praised at full time.

‘The perfect Antonio Conte player’

Football.london gave the Denmark international a 7 out of 10 for his efforts.

‘Had a tough job on his hands in the first half with Marseille dominating possession,’ they wrote.

‘Got better as the game wore on and swung in a sublime cross for Richarlison to head home late on.’

Likewise, the Evening Standard also gave Hojbjerg 7 out of 10.

They even asked whether he should be having a break at some point in the near future.

‘Crossed for Richarlison’s second goal and recycled the ball well in the middle of the park,’ they wrote.

‘Surely due a rest soon?’

The biggest praise for Hojbjerg came from London World, who gave him 8 out of 10.

‘One of the stand-out performers again for Spurs,’ they wrote.

‘Covered every blade of grass on the pitch and showed little signs of fatigue or playing games.

‘He is the perfect Antonio Conte player and is getting better by the day.’