Tottenham half-time player ratings vs FC Copenhagen as returning star earns 8/10

The half-time whistle has blown between Tottenham Hotspur and FC Copenhagen in the Champions League, and the player ratings are in.

Tottenham half-time player ratings vs Copenhagen

Guglielmo Vicario – Wasn’t really called into action to make a save, but sprayed some nice long-range passes with his feet at times, especially out wide left to Udogie and Odobert. Confident claim from a corner just as Copenhagen were building up some steam. 6.

Pedro Porro – Kept his winger quiet on the right side of defence and displayed some nice long passes over the top to set Udogie away. 6.

Cristian Romero – Tottenham rely so heavily on their captain to keep things ticking over in the build-up. You can see Romero’s brain constantly working, desperately trying to find a positive and line-breaking pass out from the back. Spurs missed that in recent weeks. 7.

Micky Van de Ven – A quiet half from Van de Ven. Not much for him to do beyond recycling the ball across the back line. Fortunately, he always had a wide out-ball to Udogie to look for. 6.

Destiny Udogie – By no means a dig at Djed Spence, but Udogie offers a much more natural source of width on the left flank, especially when Tottenham lack a touchline left-winger. He got in behind down that side all half long. If anything, he could have been a bit more proactive with his final ball. 8.

Rodrigo Bentancur – Kept things ticking over nicely for Spurs. It was Bentancur who turned and found Xavi in the build-up to the first goal. In games like these, you suspect Bentancur and Palhinha may have just gotten in each other’s way doing the same type of job. 7.

Pape Sarr – Started in a deeper pivot role alongside Bentancur, while pushing ahead when Tottenham were in possession. Arguably, a much more sensible solution for a game in which Spurs were always going to have a lot of the ball. 7.

Xavi Simons – Took up a much more fluid role in midfield, starting as a number ten but given the license to roam out wide. Much more active in the build-up play from the first minute and showcased his creativity with a lovely assist over the top for Johnson. Worked some absolute magic with Odobert on the edge of the box to set up Kolo Muani, only for the Frenchman to miss. Five minutes later, he put an even bigger sitter on a plate for Muani to head over. 8.

Brennan Johnson – Opened the scoring after he was sent in behind by Xavi, knocking it around the advancing keeper before rolling it into an empty net from a tight angle. 7.5.

Randal Kolo Muani – A few touches in and around the box that a sharper player will eventually expect to turn into some danger for the opposition, though. It took him 40 minutes into the game to have his first guilt-edge chance in a Spurs shirt as Xavi rolled him a square ball in the box, but he placed it just wide. Five minutes later, he headed an absolute sitter over the bar. Picked up a yellow late in the half. 5.

Wilson Odobert – Looked much more comfortable with an overlapping full-back behind him, which afforded him all kinds of space in the left pocket. Just lacked that killer instinct to turn certain positions into dangerous chances for Spurs. Far too wasteful in key areas at times. 6.5.