Tottenham Hotspur told Richarlison has declined after 2022 FIFA World Cup
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Gus Poyet has opined that Richarlison hasn’t been at his best since the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Brazil international arrived in N17 last summer from Everton and was seen as a player who will compete heavily with the likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski.
He did that before the World Cup to perfection. There was a time when the Sweden international was dropped on a number of occasions to accommodate the former Watford attacker.
Richarlison went into the 2022 FIFA World Cup as Brazil’s No. 9. The Selecao suffered a quarter-final defeat at the hands of Croatia, after which, according to Poyet, the 25-year-old has failed to recreate his initial impact at Spurs.
Richy not at his best
Injuries have hampered his season so far but he hasn’t scored or assisted in his last eight league appearances for us. Even now, his role under manager Antonio Conte is now restricted to cameos.
Four of his last five Premier League appearances have come from the bench. Speaking to BettingSites.co.uk (h/t Football.London), the former Uruguay international said:
“I think the progress he made under Conte, right up until the World Cup, was nearly perfection. The way that Conte took him to be as a possible replacement for Harry Kane when he was not fit, or getting in every now and then in the wide positions, it was perfect.
“He was getting used to that role, the problem was after the World Cup. He’s not playing in the same way or in the same position for Spurs as he was before. Maybe, he thought when he came back he would have more minutes, but I think something has changed. But let’s hope he can get back because Spurs need him.”
Richarlison doesn’t have a set position in this team. He has been played everywhere across the frontline and even as a No. 10. His versatility is one of his strongest suits but it can also be a problem.
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This could make Conte see him as a useful squad player rather than as a player who can pin down a starting spot in one position like Son and Kane have. He just needs an extended run of games and then hopefully, we can see the Richarlison we saw before the Qatar World Cup.
