Richarlison reborn under Thomas Frank

Considered a failed contract, Richarlison suddenly transformed to become the center of Spurs' play.

Tottenham had a summer full of regrets in the transfer market. They missed out on Eberechi Eze, failed to add any truly world-class stars, and had to watch their direct rivals strengthen their squads.

However, in that somewhat bleak picture, the seemingly small decision - keeping Richarlison - turned out to be Spurs' wisest move.

Spurs' turning point

On the very first day Thomas Frank took over the hot seat at Tottenham, he received a surprise: Richarlison knocked on the door, affirming his desire to stay. Frank's answer was short but decisive: "Good, I like you, you're a good player. So let's get started."

That conversation opened the beginning of a strange journey, when the Brazilian striker suddenly went from being on the sidelines to being at the center of the new plan.

Richarlison’s first three years at Tottenham were anything but memorable. The £60m signing was expected to be a breakout star, but injuries, inconsistency and a temper left him a disappointment. He came off the bench 36 times in the Premier League, more than he started (34).

Richarlison played well on the day Spurs defeated Manchester City 2-0 on the evening of August 23.

The Brazilian started just four games last season. If Ange Postecoglou were still in charge, Richarlison would have left London this summer. But Frank sees a different side: he sees unfulfilled potential in the 28-year-old – and that’s where the appeal lies.

It took just 10 minutes of Richarlison’s debut under his new manager to prove his worth. His turn to score against Burnley showed exceptional acumen, before he sent the crowd into a frenzy with a stunning overhead kick. But it wasn’t those moments that pleased Frank the most.

“What impressed me most was his work ethic, the way he led his team-mates, pressed, kept the ball and played with passion,” said Frank, who declared Richarlison “my number 9”, leaving Solanke aside.

Thomas Frank's Big Card

The Man City game showed why Frank was so confident. Burnley sat deep, Man City set a high offside trap. Spurs had just 39% possession, meaning Richarlison had to adapt differently: less dropping deep, more using his pace in behind the opposition defence.

In that game, he became an important spearhead. Once breaking away on the right wing, Richarlison eliminated Nathan Ake and then assisted Brennan Johnson to open the scoring. After that, it was his speed and pressure that caused chaos in the Man City defense, indirectly bringing about the second goal.

The game against Man City showed why Frank is so confident.

It wasn’t just the decisive plays, it was also a sign of Richarlison’s transformation. He was no longer the unruly, erratic and unpredictable striker. Instead, the Brazilian centre-forward became a warrior who knew how to sacrifice, knew how to press, knew how to create space for his teammates and still knew how to shine when needed. From being at risk of being pushed to Crystal Palace, Richarlison has now become an irreplaceable pillar in the Spurs squad.

This revival reflects Frank’s style. At Brentford, he was renowned for getting the best out of players – from Ollie Watkins to Ivan Toney to Bryan Mbuemo. At Tottenham, Richarlison is the first example. Frank sees not the Brazilian’s disappointing past, but an untapped source of energy. For him, untapped potential is always worth investing in.

And herein lies the paradox: Tottenham were criticised for not spending heavily in the summer. But it turns out that their most important signing did not come from the market, but from the decision not to sell. While fans were mourning Eze, Richarlison - who seemed redundant - became the most valuable "rookie".

The win at the Etihad not only cemented Spurs’ status, it also marked a turning point for Richarlison. He went from being a fringe player to being given a second chance – and he’s taking it. Perhaps the turning point of Tottenham’s season wasn’t Eze’s move to Arsenal, but Thomas Frank’s nod after knocking on the door on day one: “Stay.”

Source: https://znews.vn/richarlison-tai-sinh-duoi-thoi-thomas-frank-post1579480.html