- Jun 7, 2004
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Lo Celso's introduction roughly coincided with Spurs starting to dominate the game, but I don't think there was a great deal of cause and effect at work - and I didn't think so at the time.Watched the game again, bit less stressful knowing the result.
Two things, Lo Celso changed the game. We were a lot quicker attacking and more frequent once he came on for Ndombele. I think he's better suited to that sort of game.
West Brom got tired. With the amount of frantic, sustained pressing they had done all match to keep us successfully in a box, it was always going to happen around the 70-75' mark. For over an hour, they effectively neutralised the superior ball skills of our midfield by being more energetic and quicker to the loose ball. Eventually, the exertion had its effect and they slowed down. At that point, we brought on fresh legs: Lo Celso, then Lucas and Vinicius. And we were able to keep the ball, which tired them out even more.
Mourinho's substitutions were all attacking in nature and all effective, but I think their timing was more important than the personnel switch in midfield.