Ange can fix Kulu & Bergvall blow by unleashing Spurs "monster" in new role

After a diabolically poor season, Tottenham Hotspur stand ready to play their biggest game in years.

Ange Postecoglou’s side might well be 17th in the Premier League, but in Europe, they’ve been sensational and, as a result, have a Europa League final to contest.

However, alongside having to get the better of Manchester United for the fourth time in a row this season, the North Londoners will also have to do without several key players, most notably Dejan Kulusevski, Lucas Bergvall and James Maddison.

Their absence has left a hole in the midfield, which the manager will have to get creative about filling.

Tottenham Team News

As we’ve already mentioned, the most significant absences for Spurs ahead of tomorrow’s all-important final are Kulusevski, Bergvall and Maddison.

The former started the league game against Crystal Palace last week but came off with what was initially described as a “knock” in the first half, only for said knock to require knee surgery, which will keep him out until next season.

While Maddison hasn’t had surgery for the knee injury he picked up in the first leg of the semi-final against Bodo/Glimt, he too, will be out of action until next season.

Likewise, the boss confirmed that the young Swede will not feature again this season, as he injured his ankle in the training session before that first leg earlier this month.

Finally, both Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner remain out for the long term, with the former injuring his ACL and the latter his hamstring.

The Spurs star who should start in place of Kulusevski

Okay, so with Kulusevski, Bergvall and Maddison now out, Wilson Odobert hardly doing himself any favours on Friday night, and Son Heung-min not being the dynamic player he once was, there are no ideal solutions to this massive issue.

However, one somewhat outside-the-box option Postecoglou could opt to go with is moving Pape Matar Sarr slightly further up the pitch and into that more attacking midfield role.

Now, before the pitchforks come out, we are well aware that this is an unfamiliar position for the Senegalese ace, but he’s an incredibly talented midfielder, and we reckon that there are some elements of his game that could make this work for a one-off match.

Firstly, while he tends to play in central or defensive midfield, the 22-year-old “monster,” as dubbed by journalist Mitch Fretton, has a decent shot on him – much like Bergvall.

For example, he scored a brilliant long-range effort against Manchester City earlier this season and then, while it was ruled out for a dubious foul, scored another from outside the box against Chelsea.

Moreover, in 80 Premier League appearances, he has managed to amass six goals and six assists, which isn’t a terrible return and that, combined with his ability to strike a ball from range, could give United’s defence something to think about in the absence of the Swedish duo.

Furthermore, his underlying numbers from the Europa League this season only further indicate that he’s got more attacking ability than perhaps people give him credit for.

For example, FBref places him in the top 2% of midfielders for penalties won in the competition, the top 5% for total carrying distance, the top 6% for percentage of shots on target and medium passes completed, the top 9% for non-penalty goals and goals per shot, the top 10% for goals and more, all per 90.

Finally, unlike his captain, the former Metz gem would add even more dynamism and athleticism to the North Londoners’ midfield, which could be key to getting the better of the likes of Casemiro and Harry Maguire on the night.

Ultimately, as we’ve already said, there is no ideal solution to this problem, but starting Sarr in the more attacking midfield role might be the closest thing Postecoglou has to one that will allow the team to keep its intensity.