Statement win kickstarts Nuno Espirito Santo era at Tottenham and can shift narrative of club in decline

Every new manager craves a statement win to kickstart their tenure and the wait can occasionally be long and frustrating.

But Nuno Espirito Santo has one with his first game as Tottenham head-coach after a performance against Manchester City characterised by many of qualities that have been missing from the club for the previous two years.

For Nuno, a 1-0 win sealed by Heung-min Son’s strike, must have felt like more than three points, and not simply because over 60,000 supporters returned to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time since March 2020.

Spurs’ display should help to win over the returning supporters, many of whom were underwhelmed when the Portuguese’s appointment ended a protracted and chaotic 72-day search for a new manager, and was all the sweeter for coming at the end of two years of consistent gloom.

Maurico Pochettino’s sacking, Jose Mourinho’s miserable tenure, the club’s decision to join the doomed European Super League and, more recently, Harry Kane’s desire to leave have all contributed to the sense that Spurs are a club in decline – but yesterday’s victory lifted the mood and will shift the narrative over their prospects under Nuno.

“We know the last season was very tough for everybody, not just for us as players but very tough for the fans and the club in general,” said Davinson Sanchez. “It was very hard for everybody and everybody wants to turn the situation in our favour.”