Ange Postecoglou could call upon Dante Cassanova for Tottenham after recent position change
Ange Postecoglou has continued to protect his Tottenham players after claims his side are unable to defend set pieces.
After coming under scrutiny for the way his Spurs side defend set-pieces following the North London derby defeat to Arsenal, Tottenham’s backline was under the microscope again in the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Thursday when both goals conceded came from free-kicks.
While Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are the trusted centre-back partnership at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Postecoglou has another option among the youth ranks.
Dante Cassanova, who is naturally a defensive midfielder, has dropped into the defensive back-four this season and has continued to impress for the club’s Under-21s.
The 19-year-old has made 18 appearances in all competitions, with many of those seeing him placed at centre-back rather than in the middle of the park.
Keeping five clean sheets in those matches, Cassanova, alongside teammate Alfie Dorrington, has impressed at youth level and earned the right to be in contention for his Spurs debut.
Ange Postecoglou must take notice of Dante Cassanova at Tottenham
Whether or not Postecoglou wants to admit his challenges in the senior team, it is clear that something needs to change as Spurs continue to struggle with set pieces.
Introducing a youth player, such as Cassanova, could add a superb option to the bench, especially as a player who is capable of deputising anywhere along the spine of the team.
Although Radu Dragusin is currently a first-team option after signing from Genoa in January, the Romanian has only made six appearances, with four of them coming as a substitute.
While there are a couple of U21 defenders ahead of him in the pecking order, Cassanova’s adaptability could be something that catches Postecoglou’s eye ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
He has also overcome previous injury problems to put pen to paper on his first professional contract last July, showing his determination and passion to play. [Tottenham Hotspur]
In other Tottenham news, one player on loan from the club could be set for a permanent exit after what he was spotted doing.
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