Postecoglou gives his review of ‘excellent’ Hojbjerg as Spurs beat Fulham

Ange Postecoglou has hailed Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for stepping up to the plate and delivering a top performance against Fulham in the absence of Yves Bissouma.

Bissouma has become a vital cog in the Tottenham midfield, with his ability to win back possession and carry the ball out from defence proving vital for the Lilywhites so far this season.

So, the Mali international was going to be a big miss for Spurs against the Cottagers, with Postecoglou having to hand Hojbjerg his first start of the season.

The experienced Dane, who has delivered some steady cameos off the bench this season, ensured that the home side did not Bissouma, sweeping impressively in front of the backline, pressing the ball smartly and handling possession well.

Hojbjerg filled Yves Bissouma’s shoes vs Fulham

Postecoglou admitted that Hojbjerg’s showing in the middle of the park was key to Spurs coming away with a 2-0 win against Marco Silva’s men.

The Tottenham head coach told Football.London: “I thought Pierre was good. He’s been good in every game he’s played for us. I’ve put him on in some difficult situations and he’s handled them really well. He’s very experienced and I thought he handled it well tonight.

“I thought in the first half in particular we stayed calm on the ball and had some good tempo. Like I said I thought our pressing was outstanding all game and I thought he was a big part of that.

“He made interceptions for both goals and yeah it was important to have him in there. His experience coming in because Biss has been very important for us and in such a crucial role but I thought he was excellent.”

The Australian admitted that his side will be reliant on the squad players chipping in and contributing throughout the season.

When asked how important it is to have reliable options to turn to, the 58-year-old responded: “Yeah it’s vital. Obviously, you’re not going to have the same eleven every game, that’s for sure. But like I said it’s not like Pierre hasn’t been involved.

“He’s been very influential. Every player wants to start but for me, it’s not just the players who start but it’s about those who contribute, and he’s been a contributor all year.”

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Hojbjerg might not have Bissouma’s press resistance or his athleticism but the Dane has different attributes that are useful, including his positioning and his decision-making in possession. The 28-year-old showed yesterday that he is more than capable of playing in Postecoglou’s system.