Spurs 5-1 Shakhtar Donetsk: FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED as Harry Kane shines and Ange Postecoglou takes risks

The Spurs won Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 thanks to four goals from Harry Kane and a late goal from teenager Dane Scarlett at Tottenham Hotpsur Stadium.

In Ange Postecoglou’s first home game for the Tottenham fans, Kane showed exactly why Bayern Munich want him – and why Daniel Levy is so desperate to keep him.

However, he was not the only shining star. Pape Matar Sarr argued for himself in midfield and is emerging as a real contender for a starting spot.

His midfield counterparts James Maddison and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg also made statements, with the former trying to impress with his new club and the latter being pursued by Atletico Madrid for much of the summer.

Here are five things we learned.

Irreplaceable Harry Kane is still hungry for goals

Whatever lies ahead for Kane, there will be no questioning his attitude or hunger for goals. Here he led the team as captain, was serenaded from start to finish by supporters and helped himself to four goals, albeit against a flimsy defence.

Kane’s first came from the penalty spot, beat past Shakhtar’s outgoing hero Andrii Pyatov and played his last game before retiring on 39. His second was a close-range header to convert a James Maddison cross five minutes into the game. second half.

His third came in after a pass from Dejan Kulusevksi. His fourth, his last touch of the ball before being replaced by Dane Scarlett, was tagged into an open goal after a Mano Solomon shot was saved. Scarlett scored the fifth in stoppage time.

With Richarlison ruled out by a knock not deemed too serious, it meant 80 minutes for Kane at the forefront of this team committed to attack under Ange Postecoglou, and with it came a reminder that he is almost irreplaceable as he gets his wish and moves. to Bayern Munich.

Will he be here when Manchester United visit in two weeks? We have not learned this.

Freedom for Madison

Slowly warming up to a role he should really appreciate on the left side of Tottenham’s midfield trio. And still wear the temporary shirt number 71, presumably in the hope that a better number, say 10, becomes available before the end of the transfer window.

On the ball there were flickers of a natural chemistry with Heung-min Son and Destiny Udogie. This left side will be fast and creative, dangerous when going forward, though not particularly solid when asked to defend. Defensive alarms were rare against Shakhtar Donetsk. It was firmly in the friendly friendlies category.

For 77 minutes until he was replaced by Giovani Lo Celso, Maddison offered over 56,000 fans a glimpse of what he can do on the ball. He won a penalty with a sharp turn in a tight space. He delighted them with another flash of quick feet and a flurry of drag-backs in the first half. And he served the second for Kane to nod in.

The rise of Pape Matar Sarr

Proving to be a real contender for a midfield spot under Postecoglou. Sarr adds legs to and offsets Maddison’s luxury. He is athletic, a strong runner who has shown a willingness to step forward in support of and sometimes beyond Kane.

The 20-year-old Senegal international can sometimes be sloppy on the ball. There were mistakes in his passing as he tried to keep the ball moving at the fast pace that Postecogluo demands, and yet he forced himself into the game.

Sarr came as close as any Spurs player to an open play goal in the first half when he jumped onto a bouncing ball at the edge of the area, took a touch and forced a save from Dmytro Riznyk with a volley. He was also close to a rebound from the keeper.

The reason to keep Hojbjerg

It’s an unsung job and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg does it well. Sitting in front of the central defenders, setting the pace with passes, but more importantly, shielding central halves and reducing counter-attacks by any means necessary as teammates stream forward.

This is the anchor for the system designed for fluidity and of those who have Postecoglou at his disposal, there is no one better suited to the role than Hojbjerg, who has a greater physical presence and more cynical tactical acumen than Yves Bissouma or Oliver Skipp.

The Dane has a potential move to Atletico Madrid scheduled for most of the summer and is expected to leave, but there is strong case to keep him if Spurs are unable to sign someone else who is so natural in this position.

Shredding nerves in the back

Shakhtar’s threat was intermittent. In fact, Spurs haven’t really been put to the test in the pre-season since their opener against West Ham in Perth, when Jarrod Bowen caused chaos at half-time. They’re in better order here than they were on that occasion, but it’s clear that Postecoglou is willing to live dangerously in the back.

Cristian Romero and Ben Davies have shown reasonable understanding, even though Romero can be rash (he picked up a yellow card in this tepid friendly win) and Davies was punched in the air by Kevin Kelsy in front of Shakhtar’s goal.

Micky van de Ven will be added to the squad this week if all goes well. Van de Ven was at the stadium for this match, ahead of the medical treatment that precedes his £43 million transfer from Wolfsburg. His pace of recovery will be vital if Spurs are determined to perform at such risk.