A pundit slams Tottenham’s Erik Lamela for what he tried to do in closing minutes of the Premier League defeat against Leeds on Saturday.
Rio Ferdinand has criticised the Argentinean for attempting a rabona when Spurs was losing 3-1 down to Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
The attacking midfielder/winger is known to have an appetite to pull off the spectacular or a stylish finish every now and again, and he did score a rabona goal against Arsenal earlier this season.
He was substituted on by Ryan Mason yesterday as Tottenham attempted to get back in the game to prevent being embarrassed.
They needed everyone to be as direct and as quick as possible against a strong Whites’ side, however Ferdinand was left displeased that Lamela was trying to be creative and showboaty while they were chasing to get themselves a goal and he also wonders why no Tottenham player confronted the attacker to tell him off.
‘Lamela came on and at times he had impact. There was a moment where he tried a rabona. You’re 3-1 down in this moment,’ Ferdinand said via Mail Sport.
‘The important thing was the reaction in Spurs shirts. I was looking for someone to get on to him.’
Ferdinand added: ‘I couldn’t imagine being in a team where that player doesn’t get a rollicking. There’s got to be someone in there to say, “listen, we’re here to get results”.
‘If there were fans here, you would have been jeered off the pitch. There would have been a queue of people wanting to get at him.
‘What does that signal to the other team? “They’re not serious, they’re not serious about this”. You have to look right.’
That defeat affects Spurs’ slim hopes of making the top four in the Premier League this season and sums up their inconsistent campaign.
They won their first two league games under Ryan Mason, but have now lost the Carabao Cup final and another league game under the rookie boss.
Player ratings
Leeds: Meslier (8), Ayling (6), Koch (7), Struijk (8), Llorente (7), Alioski (7), Klich (7), Dallas (7), Harrison (8), Bamford (7), Roberts (6).
Subs: Raphinha (7), Rodrigo (6), Phillips (n/a).
Tottenham: Lloris (8), Aurier (6), Alderweireld (6), Dier (5), Reguilon (5), Hojbjerg (6), Lo Celso (7), Bale (5), Alli (6), Son (7), Kane (6).
Subs: Lamela (6), Moura (6), Ndombele (n/a).
Man of the match: Jack Harrison.
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa: “For a while now we hope to play on an equal term with an important opponent. In some ways today we achieved this.
“The conclusion is linked to the enthusiasm of the players. The rebelliousness to try and look like the teams that are better than us.
“Every time a professional football team plays, they are obliged to give a performance to those watching and follow them. They are obliged to give their best version possible. We will try for this.”
Interim Spurs boss Ryan Mason: “We had moments, but we weren’t clinical enough at times. They started bright but we got back. At 1-1 there was an offside decision and I’m shocked. I don’t think it was right. People don’t understand momentum in football and how those decisions can affect you.
“I’ve seen it back. My first look, second look and 10th look tell me that it’s not offside. At 1-1 it’s a big moment. In my opinion they got that one wrong.
“Leeds know what they’re doing, they play a certain way and it took us a while to get into the game. In the second half we were the better team. The moments we had; you have to take them in these games.
“Today was a massive game for us, to lose it hurts. It’s difficult to win in the Premier League but we’ve got to have our full attention on next week now.”
Fans reacted as pundit Rio Ferdinand slams Lamela for what he tried to do in closing minutes against Leeds…
@thfclp__: Tears in my eyes. 2 years ago today that night in Amsterdam to Lamela doing rabona’s 3-1 down to Leeds United.
@mhewstone: This just gets worse the longer it goes on
@anoshdaji: Spurs 3-1 down and Lamela tries a rabona pass which goes for a Leeds throw 🤡
@ftbIiq: Lamela just did a cross field Rabona to give Leeds a throw in while we’re 3-1 down..
@westy_snr: Actually laughable now how dreadful we are… Comical
@RealKillian: Big big Clear out needed
@OllieHolmes1: Should’ve been sold years ago with the other failures from the Bale money. Eriksen was the only one worth keeping and look where he is now, winning trophies! Wonder where the club would be if Levy listened to (and backed Poch) about the rebuild. This is excruciating, not painful
@LouisHoward_: Lamela trying to do a rabona pass when we’re 3-1 down to Leeds in a must win game is just the icing on the cake
@thespursweb: 3-1 down and 3 mins of time to go and Lamela is out here trying Rabona passes to the other side of the pitch
@TheBrianGately: The state of Spurs 😂😂😂
@COYSffs: i’m sick of supporting this business honestly
@James97533886: Sell the the whole back 4 and midfield hojbjerg overrated
@zstev8: Imagine being a professional Premier league player and not being able to pass with one of your feet
@Spurssociety1: His right foot doesn’t work
@tommckenzie81: Shouldn’t make the squad for the rest of the season for that. Absolute disgrace
@scottmcd83: I would have taken him off after doing that… played it out with 10 men! And let the cunt make his own way home and prey he doesn’t. That bloke shouldn’t even get near a match day squad again
@jme_900: Sooner he leaves the better the same with a few others
@djjoelyd: And this is why he’s a waste of space. 🤬
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