Sandro Tonali disappointed with Tottenham’s loss at Leeds
Spurs had turned their form around prior to this loss.
Sandro Tonali conceded “it was tough” after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Leeds halted Tottenham’s three-game winning run in the Premier League.
Leeds forward Noah Okafor clinched his side’s first win since September, scoring the decisive goal with his first touch after stepping off the bench to replace Lukas Nmecha.
Tottenham had turned their season around after failing to win any of their first six matches, taking 10 points from their following four to climb into the top half of the table.
“I think it was tough,” Tonali told Tottenham’s official website. “We knew everything. This week we trained a lot to play this game.
“From the start we played a little bit slow. We made a lot of mistakes on the ball and I think we conceded a few chances.
“The last four games were different. Apart from 10 minutes against Coventry, and the second half against Man United, all the four games were really positive for us. But (Saturday) was different.”
Both Leeds and Tottenham found chances hard to come by in a first-half that lacked quality at Elland Road.
While Leeds had a penalty shout turned down by VAR after the ball appeared to hit Mateus Fernandes’ arm, the visitors were lucky not to have Jayden Bogle sent off for his challenge on Mathys Tel.
Tel was caught on his Achilles by Bogle’s studs, but after a lengthy delay, VAR ruled there had been no serious foul play.
Leeds made a fast start to the second half, creating several chances and Tonali acknowledged his side came under heavy pressure .
“They press really high, especially here in in this stadium,” the Italian said. “And I think sometimes when you find this team, you have to show all your personality. You have to play with the ball much better.
“You have to improve everything, not just just with the ball, but without the ball as well.
“I think the 10 minutes in the middle of the second half, it was really tough for us. It was for me and for the team, everything was difficult, the press, we conceded a few chance and we created probably nothing in these 10 minutes.”
Tottenham next face Ipswich at home after the international break and Tonali feels Roberto De Zerbi’s side need to find more consistency.
“I don’t know if we played like this because we played four (previous) games really well, or I don’t know if we were tired, or they played so good,” he added.
“I have to watch it back, but we can learn everything about this game.”