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It turns out that it was not just Willian who snubbed Tottenham Hotspur in favour of a move to Chelsea, as one of his former teammates has revealed he did the same.

Willian famously completed a medical at Tottenham before Chelsea hijacked the deal, and Spurs fans still have not forgotten the heartbreak from that transfer saga back in 2013.

Willian has since revealed that he was on his way to the Spurs training ground to sign a contract before the Blues called him to change his mind.

It turns out that the winger’s former club and international teammate also did the same in 2012.

Former Chelsea midfielder reveals Tottenham snub

Former Chelsea attacking midfielder Oscar, who made over 200 appearances for the Blues after arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2012, has now revealed that Spurs were the ones to contact him first.

The 34-year-old, who currently plays at Sao Paulo, explained that despite speaking to former Tottenham Hotspur boss Andre Villas-Boas, he decided to move to the West London club.

Oscar told former Chelsea teammate John Obi Mikel on the Obi One podcast: “No, I had Tottenham as well, because André Villas-Boas was there. Yes, Villas-Boas was the first one to call me. Wow. I played with Villas-Boas in China, and he always said, ‘I talked to you, why don’t you come?’

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“But, you know, Chelsea… I cannot compare. Chelsea is better, so I chose Chelsea. And it was the right choice, because I played good football there, we won some titles that year. So it was amazing.”

Missing out on Willian and Oscar was a blessing in disguise for Spurs

Missing out on Oscar in 2012 was not a particularly big blow to Tottenham, who had Rafael van der Vaart in their ranks at the time, and the Brazilian was hardly a big name back then.

Even the Willian snub worked out well in the end for the Lilywhites, who then signed Christian Eriksen, who had a fabulous Tottenham career.

Thomas Frank has given his thoughts on Rodrigo Bentancur following the midfielder’s new contract, and while he praised his qualities, the Tottenham boss believes there are still key areas where the Uruguayan can raise his game.

Tottenham Hotspur recently confirmed that Rodrigo Bentancur has signed a new long-term deal at the club, securing his future in North London after months of uncertainty.

The midfielder had been at risk of leaving on a free transfer next summer, but he is now tied down for the foreseeable future and expected to remain a central figure in Thomas Frank’s side.

Frank himself has already stated that extending Bentancur’s contract reflects the direction of the club and shows that the midfielder, along with others, has bought into the long-term project Spurs are building.

Thomas Frank on what Rodrigo Bentancur must improve at Tottenham

While the Dane is pleased to have secured Bentancur’s long-term future, Thomas Frank did not hold back when asked what areas the midfielder still needs to develop.

Bentancur, at his best, is a top-class midfielder, and Tottenham fans will remember just how influential he was during Antonio Conte’s time in charge, before that long-term ACL injury stalled his progress.

Since then, the Uruguayan has been back on the pitch regularly for Spurs, and while he has played to a solid standard, he has yet to consistently reach the heights of his pre-injury form.

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Speaking to football.london, Frank explained: “I think one thing I have seen, I am very happy with him as a player and as a character. I think when he plays at his best level, he is a top-level as a midfielder here in the Premier League and I probably need to see a little bit more consistency there.

“I also want him to and I told him myself, I want him to a little bit more dictate the game and get on the ball when it is tough because he is so good on the ball. He is so composed and so good to get the ball in tight areas and get out of situations.

“That I would like to see a little bit more, so I think that is the first bit and he can easily add goals to the game, but the more we can control the middle of the pitch with him, the better.”

Spurs fans still waiting for more from Bentancur

Bentancur’s primary role at Tottenham has never been about scoring goals, as he is most often deployed in the pivot role, usually alongside Joao Palhinha, where his responsibilities are more about controlling possession and supporting defensively.

His job is to keep the team ticking and maintain balance, but his performances have not always carried the level of consistency supporters would hope for, especially across long stretches of the season.

Tottenham Hotspur are back to winning ways with a victory on the road against Leeds United and it was a special day for two players in particular.

Let’s take a look at the five things we learned from Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Leeds.

Mohammed Kudus shines with goal and assist for Tottenham

Mohammed Kudus has been a wonderful signing for Tottenham Hotspur, but his record in front of goal had been disappointing before this afternoon’s fixture.

The winger scored a very good goal against Wolves last weekend, but it was disallowed after the linesman raised his flag.

However, Kudus is now officially on the scoresheet after scoring the winning goal against Leeds. He assisted Mathys Tel too and was Tottenham’s man of the match.

Mathys Tel scores his first Tottenham goal of the season

Tel has not played much this season, but when he has, his performances have been concerning. Up until today, the young Frenchman failed to make any notable contributions.

It was a different story for Tel at Elland Road, as he got a shot on goal which went in after a deflection. He nearly found the back of the net for a second time shortly before half-time, but was denied by the crossbar.

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Hopefully, this is the start of a turning point for Tel at Spurs. His confidence must have taken some knocks, especially after the abuse he suffered following the UEFA Super Cup.

Tel has certainly benefited from Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke being out of action and if he gets another chance, he must show he brings more to the table than his competitors.

Xavi Simons was better but not perfect

The pressure was on for Xavi Simons to perform as soon as he arrived at Tottenham. Unfortunately, his first few appearances have been very underwhelming, with the left wing clearly not suiting his style of play.

Simons was much better today and played a couple of very good forward passes. However, he would do well to stick to the fundamentals when appropriate because there were times when he tried to do too much.

There was one moment when the midfielder could have set up Cristian Romero, but he attempted a rabona pass which failed to reach his target.

Simons has plenty of room for improvement, but there were signs today of what he can do. A few more appearances in the central attacking position and he could have his breakthrough moment at Tottenham.

Thomas Frank switches up his Tottenham formation

Thomas Frank has recently received his first taste of scrutiny from the Spurs supporters. Fingers have been pointed at the manager for a number of his decisions, including the system he has implemented.

The Dane switched things up today with a more fluid setup, which saw Simons join Tel at the heart of the Tottenham attack and it worked a treat.

Spurs had some good attacking spells during the match and managed to score another two goals and claim all three points.

Spurs end their international break curse

Tottenham suffered their first Premier League defeat of the season directly before the last international break, a 1-0 home loss to Bournemouth. In fact, Spurs had lost their past seven matches immediately before an international break.

That unwanted streak was finally brought to an end this afternoon as Tottenham inflicted a first home defeat on Leeds since February, when Millwall knocked them out of the FA Cup.

Spurs now go into the break in a strong position. Other clubs have a game in hand, but Tottenham are second in the Premier League table as things stand.

The referee has blown his whistle to bring an end to proceedings between Leeds United and Tottenham, and the full-time player ratings are in.

Tottenham full-time player ratings vs Leeds

Guglielmo Vicario – Nowhere near good enough for the opening Leeds goal. He did make a good save with his left foot early in the second half, but Vicario needs to be doing better. He is now a member of the club’s leadership squad, and his very first responsibility should be to perform on the pitch. In fairness, his second-half performance was much better than his first. 5

Pedro Porro – Had a poor first half but immediately challenged the Leeds goalkeeper with a cross in the second half. Porro has hit a shaky patch of form, and Spurs visibly miss the quality he offers when he is at his best. 5

Cristian Romero – The captain was booked for squaring up to Noah Okafor. He should know better than to involve himself in such incidents. However, his passing was spot on today, and he made his fair share of defensive contributions. 7

Micky van de Ven – The Dutchman fulfilled his defensive duties. There were no standout moments from him today, but ultimately he did his job. 6.5

Destiny Udogie – A positive performance from the left-back. He consistently got forward and caused the Leeds defence problems. 7.5

Joao Palhinha – Not a bad display from Palhinha, but his borderline head loss near the end of the first half was a bit concerning. The midfielder always seems to play okay, but his partnership with Bentancur continues to raise questions due to a lack of creative spark. 6

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Rodrigo Bentancur – Was lucky not to single-handedly cost Tottenham a goal in the first half after giving the ball away in a position of danger. Some Spurs supporters will be disappointed that Archie Gray was not brought on to get some minutes against his former club. 5

Xavi Simons – Had his moments of brilliance during the match, but there were large parts of it when he struggled to make an impact. Still, there were signs of potential from Simons in the centralised position. 6

Mohammed Kudus – The winger has been Tottenham’s signing of the summer, and he has finally opened his goalscoring account at the club. Kudus got great direction on the shot and wrong-footed Karl Darlow. 8.5

Mathys Tel – Scored Tottenham’s opening goal and almost had a second on the stroke of half-time. Tel was rarely on the ball except for those instances, but hopefully he has found some much-needed confidence. 7.5

Wilson Odobert – Had a couple of creative moments, but only did so much to affect the game. Odobert looks like a decent player, but he is certainly not the finished product at this point in time. Brennan Johnson may just have the edge due to his goalscoring ability. 6

Substitutes:

Pape Matar Sarr – Played the final 15 minutes. 6

Richarlison – Came on and managed to get one shot away. Richarlison will be hoping to return to the starting lineup after the international break to renew his goalscoring form from earlier in the season. 6

Kevin Danso – A late sub. N/A

The first half in the Premier League clash between Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur has reached a conclusion and the Spurs player ratings are in.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking for a first Premier League victory since their 3-0 thrashing of West Ham in mid-September.

Leeds United got a draw against Bournemouth in their last match and defeated Wolves the week before, two things Spurs failed to achieve when they faced those sides.

We have rated the Tottenham players on a scale of 1-10.

Tottenham half-time player ratings vs Leeds

Guglielmo Vicario – Came out of his goal in a moment of madness when Leeds had a free kick after six minutes and Joe Rodon struck the post against his former club. His goalkeeping was poor for the Leeds goal as he punched the ball into a dangerous area with his save. 3

Pedro Porro – Gave the ball away shortly after the Leeds goal, which led to a shooting chance. Porro was definitely the weaker of the two Tottenham full-backs. 4

Cristian Romero – Passed the ball well in the first half, but will be frustrated to have already lost his opportunity for a clean sheet on his return to the first team. 6

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Micky van de Ven – Captained the team in midweek and was taking goal kicks today. 6

Destiny Udogie – Managed to get a rare shot on goal after a nice piece of link-up play with Simons. He could have got another shot away, but opted to square the ball to Kudus, who fired over the bar. 7

Joao Palhinha – Had a half chance with a long-range half volley, but his effort was fired well over the bar. Moments later, Palhinha floated a promising ball to Kudus on the right wing, but he was soon dispossessed. The defensive midfielder was consistently involved during the first half. He became the second Spurs player to receive a booking for a sliding challenge. 6

Rodrigo Bentancur – Gave the ball away on the edge of his box, and he was lucky that Dominic Calvert-Lewin fired his shot over the bar. 4.5

Xavi Simons – Looks more comfortable in the attacking midfield role and looked to play clever through balls behind the Leeds defence. His influence seemed to dwindle as the half went on, with Spurs having to defend more. 6

Mohammed Kudus – Excellent dribbling once again from the winger, but he picked up a needless yellow card for a challenge on Anton Statch. Kudus made up for this by assisting Tottenham’s opening goal. He had a chance when Udogie gave him the ball in space, but his shot was not even close to being on target. Not long after, he played a very good cross which gave Leeds a brief scare. 7

Mathys Tel – The striker had barely touched the ball, and then he scored with his first opportunity. Tel made a good run and did well to get a shot away. His effort took a big deflection, but the fact that he scored is all that matters. He almost had a second with a header, which hit the bar towards the end of the half. 7.5

Thomas Frank has selected his Tottenham Hotspur team for the Premier League match against Leeds United in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

Tottenham come into the fixture looking for their first league victory after two consecutive draws against Brighton and Wolves.

Spurs drew 2-2 with Brighton and had to rely on Joao Palhinha’s injury-time strike to salvage a point at home to Wolves.

Leeds, meanwhile, are coming off the back of a win and a draw in their last two outings which saw them beat Wolves and take a point against Bournemouth.

What is the Tottenham team vs Leeds United?

Tottenham are still short on attacking options after Dominic Solanke underwent ankle surgery, and during Friday’s press conference, Thomas Frank confirmed Randal Kolo Muani will also miss the match due to a dead leg which has kept him out in recent weeks.

Club captain Cristian Romero returns to the starting line-up having missed Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Wednesday.

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James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, Kota Taka are all still not ready to return from their respective injury issues.

This is the Tottenham Hotspur team which takes to the field at Elland Road this afternoon:

Leeds XI: Darlow; Bogle, Struijk, Rodon, Gudmundsson; Longstaff, Ampadu, Stach; Aaronson, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor.

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Palhinha, Bentancur, Kudus, Xavi Simons, Odobert; Tel.

Subs: Kinsky, Spence, Davies, Danso, Gray, Bergvall, Sarr, Johnson, Richarlison

Tottenham’s form before an international break is poor

Tottenham fans wince when they hear that the international break follows, considering the club’s woeful record.

The Lilywhites haven’t won directly before an international break since October 2023, when they beat Luton Town 1-0 with 10 men under former boss Ange Postecoglou.

Thomas Frank has admitted that Tottenham are still searching for the right balance on the left-hand side of the pitch, with the new manager hinting that he has not yet found his preferred combination in that area.

Tottenham Hotspur have seen a host of changes take place both on and off the pitch, with new players arriving in the summer transfer window, while several others departed.

As is usually the case when a squad undergoes that much change, there is always a period of adaptation, and it appears to be no different at Tottenham with new boss Frank still trying to get his side to perform at the level required.

Spurs are performing at a respectable level, but there is a clear sense that they can improve, and that in itself will only happen when players get used to one another and fully adapt to Frank’s system.

Thomas Frank on Tottenham’s creativity on the left side

While the right-hand side of Tottenham’s attack appears settled, with first-choice players, Mohammed Kudus and Pedro Porro seemingly locked in, there is still a battle for places on the left, both at full-back and in the wide attacking roles.

Speaking to the media, Frank has now explained that the contrast between both flanks is evident, with one offering consistency and the other still searching for fluency.

Thomas Frank’s recent comments suggest that he is still working out his best combination on that side of the pitch.

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He said via Tottenham’s official channel: “One side is creating chances, the other side is finishing them. That is not too bad when you look at the stats. Mo and Pedro’s relationship is really good and there is that consistency. On the other side there are different left-backs and wingers, so it is about finding that consistency and flow.”

Spurs left side remains a puzzle for Thomas Frank

Frank continues to search for the right balance on the left-hand side of the pitch, with the former Brentford manager trying out different players in that position.

Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence have been rotated in the full-back role, while Xavi Simons, Brennan Johnson, Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel have all been handed opportunities further up the pitch.

However, none of them have yet made the position their own, leaving Frank with questions to answer as he continues to look for the best possible balance within his squad.

Mohammed Kudus has quickly established himself as a livewire presence in Tottenham’s attack this season, and his numbers now prove what the eye test has already been showing.

Tottenham Hotspur have long craved for a maverick in attack, one capable of producing something out of nothing, and that is precisely why Mohammed Kudus was brought into the side.

The Ghana international has always been recognised for his dribbling, his directness and the way he unsettles defenders with his trickery whenever he isolates them in wide areas.

This season at Tottenham, that flair has been on full display, and the statistics are beginning to match the performances, offering concrete proof of the impact that Kudus has had since joining

Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus joins Jeremy Doku in standout Premier League stat

According to Squawka, only two players in the Premier League this season have managed to both create 10 or more chances and complete 10 or more take-ons.

Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus and Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku are the two names that stand out, showcasing their ability to both beat players and carve out opportunities in the final third.

Kudus has already completed 24 take-ons and created 12 chances, while Doku has recorded 18 take-ons and also created 12 chances, putting them both in a league of their own amongst attacking players this campaign.

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Tottenham still lack creativity from central areas

It is an ideal situation for Thomas Frank to have a wide player like Kudus, someone who can alter the course of a game through skill, directness and individual creativity.

However, while Kudus’ influence gives Tottenham an edge on the flanks, the bigger issue for Spurs now lies in the central areas, where the lack of a natural playmaker is beginning to show.

Daniel Farke has revealed what his Leeds United side have to be wary of when they take to the field against Tottenham Hotspur.

There is a bit of a feeling that Frank’s honeymoon period at Spurs is now coming to an end, with fans and pundits starting to criticise some aspects of his side’s displays.

Some have questioned Tottenham’s inability to create chances under Frank, but the Dane remains confident that it is only a matter of time before the Lilywhites click into gear as an offensive unit.

Spurs are now back in Premier League action, with a trip to Elland Road up next, and his opposite number has been complimentary of what he has seen from Frank’s side this season.

Daniel Farke reveals what Thomas Frank has brought to Tottenham

Opta’s supercomputer has installed Tottenham as the favourites to get all three points against Leeds, which the Lilywhites desperately need to get back on track.

Farke has insisted that his side will face a tough test tomorrow, given the structure that the new Spurs head coach has imparted in his side.

When asked what stands out about Frank and his style, the Leeds boss said (via Leeds official channel): “His mentality, also the intensity the team plays with, is always well structured, strong, and also against the ball, they play and press with intensity.

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“They always threaten the depth with many, many runners in behind. Also, of course, the detail set pieces, attention to throw-ins. All these topics are, of course, important for Thomas.”

Farke reveals why Spurs are a dangerous side

Tottenham go into the game at Elland Road having won just one of their last four matches across all competitions: their 3-0 win over Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup.

However, Farke insists that despite Spurs’ downturn in form, they have showcased the mentality to consistently recover from setbacks, which his side has to be wary of.

The German coach added about his opponents: “For me, also the mentality to grind out results, because if you play three days every week, of course, you have to rotate a bit more than you would do if you just have one game per week,” said the Leeds manager.

“But they’re playing in Europe, and they have, of course, to rotate a bit more. Of course, they also have the squad and the quality players to do this.

“So sometimes it’s also a bit difficult to produce a perfect performance. But even when it’s a bit more difficult and they rotate, they will still find a way in the last games to dig in and to grind out a result. Also, the mentality that Thomas brings to his team is pretty effective, and he also finds pragmatic solutions to grind out results.

“For that, we always have to be aware, even if you’re on top of the game, they can always come back and deliver a late goal. He has a good mentality, it shows the good spirit, and this is why it’s always so difficult to get a result against his side.”

After a midweek trip to the Arctic Circle, Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action with a visit to Elland Road on Saturday. Thomas Frank’s side are looking to shake off a run of poor performances, while newly promoted Leeds United have quietly put together a strong start.

The trip to Norway to face Bodo Glimt in Tottenham’s second Champions League game did not go according to plan. Spurs were two goals down before a late fightback saw them snatch a 2-2 draw.

It was another frustrating display from Thomas Frank’s men, and not the first of its kind. Against Wolves and Brighton in the Premier League, Spurs also found themselves chasing the game and relying on late goals to salvage a point. Despite their slump in form, Tottenham still sit fourth in the table with 11 points from six matches.

For a newly promoted side, Leeds United have adapted well in their first Premier League season since 2022-23. Instead of hovering around the relegation zone, they are comfortably placed in mid-table with two wins, two draws and two defeats.

Daniel Farke’s team showed how good they can be, against Bournemouth last weekend, only denied all three points by a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw.

What time does Leeds United vs Tottenham Hotspur kick off?

Leeds United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Head-to-head record

Leeds have struggled against Tottenham in recent years, losing nine of the last 11 league meetings and winning just once in that time. Spurs have won the last four games in a row.

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It feels like a long time since these two met. In fact, one Spurs managerial era began and ended without facing Leeds at all. The last meetings came in the 2022-23 season when Tottenham won 4-3 at home and followed up with a 4-1 victory at Elland Road on the final day in what was also the last ever Spurs appearance for Harry Kane.

Tottenham team news

Spurs’ latest signing, Randal Kolo Muani, was absent from training before the Bodo trip and did not travel due to a dead leg. Frank revealed that the staff are on top of the issue, which suggests he is close to a return.

Cristian Romero was left at home in midweek as a precaution but is expected to captain the side on Saturday. Dominic Solanke is out after undergoing a minor surgery and joins the longer-term absentees James Maddison, Radu Dragusin and Dejan Kulusevski.

There will also be updates on Kota Takai and Kolo Muani in Frank’s press conference on Friday.

Leeds United team news

Daniel Farke’s side have very few problems to deal with. Only Lucas Peri and Wilfried Gnonto are set to miss this game.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bergvall, Palhinha, Simons; Kudus, Tel, Odobert.

Antonin Kinsky could come in for Vicario after criticism of the Italian’s distribution in recent weeks. Pape Sarr had a nightmare in Norway and is likely to be rested. Rodrigo Bentancur was not much better, but it is unlikely Frank will pair him with Joao Palhinha.

If Kolo Muani is not fit enough, Mathys Tel looks more likely than Richarlison to start.

Our prediction

Tottenham have struggled for rhythm in the league, often playing their best football when chasing the game. This fixture offers a good chance to set the tone early and rebuild confidence.

It is worth noting Spurs’ poor record going into international breaks, with no wins before one since October 2023. Mohammed Kudus will be the one to watch. His duel with former Spurs defender Joe Rodon, now a key part of Leeds’ back line and fresh off scoring in their last game, will be interesting to watch.

Frank knows that the fans are disappointed with what they’re having to watch lately. However, his strong away record this season will make the supporters a bit more hopeful.

Spurs have collected seven points from their three league trips in 2025-26, as many as in their previous 11 on the road combined.