Tottenham Hotspur have a glaring issue that needs addressing, and a stat comparison between Johnny Cardoso and Yves Bissouma shows Ange Postecoglou has a big decision to make.
So far this season, there has been an obvious issue at Tottenham Hotspur. When possession is turned over, Spurs are far too easy to play through. It is eerily similar to what Manchester City have faced this campaign.
The lack of a dominant, defensive-minded midfielder is hurting them—a physical presence who can break up play and shield the backline when pressure mounts.
Yves Bissouma is supposed to be that player, but his recent performances have raised serious doubts.
He has been shifted out of the role, leaving the Lilywhites reliant on Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall in holding midfield. While they have scraped results here and there, whenever they face high-intensity pressing teams, the cracks widen.
There is, however, a potential solution. Tottenham hold a £21 million buy option for Johnny Cardoso, a clause inserted when they sold Giovani Lo Celso to Real Betis.
The question is, would he actually improve things? A deep dive into his numbers suggests he could.
How does Johnny Cardoso compare to Yves Bissouma?
Looking at Cardoso’s defensive stats when compared to holding midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, he stands out. He is in the 99th percentile for interceptions, 94th for tackles and interceptions combined, and 92nd for clearances per 90 minutes.
Which in comparison to Bissouma’s numbers, are no different. According to Fbref, his interception rate sits at 1.34 per 90, which puts him in the 77th percentile.
He actually outperforms Cardoso in tackles won in the midfield third by 0.03 per game. He also wins more tackles in the defensive third—1.30 per 90 minutes, ranking in the 87th percentile, compared to Cardoso’s 0.72 per 90, which places him in the 36th percentile.
| Stat Category | Johnny Cardoso | Yves Bissouma |
|---|---|---|
| Interceptions per 90 | 2.12(99th percentile) | 1.34 (77th percentile) |
| Tackles + Interceptions per 90 | 4.72(94th percentile) | 4.52(90th percentile) |
| Clearances per 90 | 92nd percentile | 2.30(89th percentile) |
| Tackles won in midfield third | 1.52 per 90 (93rd percentile) | 1.55 per 90 (higher than Cardoso) |
| Tackles won in defensive third | 0.72 per 90 (36th percentile) | 1.30 per 90 (87th percentile) |
| Errors leading to opponent shots | 0.04 per 90 | 0.21 per 90 |
Does Cardoso solve Tottenham’s problem?
One key stat, though, tips the balance. While Bissouma is a tackling machine, errors have crept into his game. He averages 0.21 mistakes per 90 minutes that lead to an opponent’s shot. Cardoso? Just 0.04. That is a huge difference.
Of course, several factors could explain Bissouma’s lapses—perhaps the lack of a proper defensive structure around him is a contributing factor. But at this level, his error rate is alarming. Consistency is key, and Cardoso appears to have the edge in that regard.
That being said, Cardoso is not the elite defensive presence Spurs desperately need, at least according to fans. He would be a solid addition, but he is not the answer on his own.
Reports suggest that Tottenham’s priority this summer is a midfielder, and if they are serious about fixing their biggest flaw, that search needs to end with a specialist in the role.