Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has said attacker Steven Bergwijn must “believe in himself more” as he fights for his future at the Premier League club.
Bergwijn has barely figured in Conte's starting XI since the Italian took over as manager and has been reduced to cameo appearances off the bench.
The 24-year-old, who was a target for Ajax in January, scored three goals in two games for the Netherlands during the international break.
Bergwijn spoke of frustration at his lack of gametime at Spurs while away with the Dutch team and said “we’ll see what happens in the summer” when asked about his future.
Conte – who has settled on a front three of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dejan Kulusevski as Spurs look to secure Champions League football next season – remains convinced that Bergwijn has the quality to succeed.
“We’re talking about a player of great quality, great potential,” Conte said. “He’s different to the other players in the squad, good one v one. When the space is tight, he’s good at beating the man and scoring.
“Steven has great space for improvement, he has to try to give continuity and to continue to work in the way that he’s doing.
Spurs 3 West Ham: player ratings
-
TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris 6 – Beaten at his near post for Benrahma’s goal, which the Frenchman might be disappointed with. Had very little else to deal with, as West Ham lacked conviction in front of goal. Getty -
Cristian Romero 6 – Gave the ball away in dangerous positions on a handful of occasions. Having said that, the Argentine was arguably Spurs’ best defender when the home side was put under pressure. AP -
Eric Dier 7 – A mature display from the 28-year-old, who expertly marshalled the backline. His excellent distribution out from the back will also please his manager. Action Images -
Ben Davies 6 – Much improved in the second half, recovering well from a nervy end to the first. He showed good composure in key moments. AFP -
Matt Doherty 7 – Carried his fine form into this tie, adding plenty of energy and dynamism to Spurs’ play from the wing-back position. The Irishman has already established a good understanding with Dejan Kulusevski going forward. Action Images -
Rodrigo Bentancur 8 – The Uruguayan’s passing was metronomic at times, as he dictated the tempo of the game early on. Wasn’t quite as influential in the final half-hour. AP -
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 7 – A solid display from the 26-year-old midfielder. He worked tirelessly for the cause and should have grabbed an assist after playing Harry Kane clean through on goal with the score at 2-1. Reuters -
Reguilon 7 – Played as the more advanced of Spurs’ two full-backs, to the point where Son drifted more and more central to accommodate the pair on the left side. The Spaniard offered a constant threat. AFP -
Dejan Kulusevski 7 – While he lacked end product, mainly due to his penchant for shooting from range, the forward’s link-up play with both Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane on the counter caused West Ham plenty of problems. AP -
Son Heung-Min 9 – Scorer of Spurs’ second and third, the South Korean was, by some distance, the most threatening player on the pitch, getting in behind the defence time and time again. AP -
Harry Kane 8 – No goals for the English marksman, but he did assist Son twice to emphasise just how deadly their partnership is. Missed a handful of clear cut opportunities that would have put the game to bed a lot earlier. AP -
SUBS: Emerson Royal N/A – Slotted into the Spurs back five for the final few minutes. Action Images -
Lucas Moura N/A - Little of note to report. Steven Bergwijn N/A – Replaced match-winner Son in injury time. Getty -
WEST HAM RATINGS: Lukasz Fabianski 5 – Arguably should have done better to prevent Son's first, although the shot was deflected. The Polish stopper’s wayward distribution did put his defence under more pressure than was necessary. EPA -
Ben Johnson 6 – Improved as the game wore on, tracking Son and Reguilon diligently in the second period. Could not question the right-back's work rate. Getty -
Craig Dawson 5 – Endured a wretched first 30 minutes, making an error for Spurs' second, before picking up a yellow card. He did somewhat atone for this, assisting Benrahma’s consolation goal. Action Images -
Kurt Zouma 4 – The former Chelsea man scored an own goal after just nine minutes, and his game didn’t exactly get better from there. Loose in possession, and far too mistake-prone - this was one to forget. Reuters -
Aaron Cresswell 5 – Unconvincing up against the illusive Kulusevski. His set-piece deliveries were uncharacteristically wayward. Getty -
Tomas Soucek 6 - A quiet game from the powerful midfielder. Won a handful of aerial battles, but the Czech international wasn’t able to get on the ball as much as he would have liked. Getty -
Declan Rice 6 – The Hammers captain was a calming influence in midfield after the side conceded two early goals. He lacked his usual incisive play in the second half, as Spurs re-established control. EPA -
Manuel Lanzini 6 – Much brighter in the second half from the tricky number 10. He always looked to make things happen in and around the Spurs box, even if his final ball often lacked conviction. AFP -
Said Benrahma 7 – Scorer of West Ham’s goal. With the Hammers struggling massively in the first half, his instinctive, improvised finish from a corner changed the complexion of the game for a while. AFP -
Arthur Masuaku 7 – A more than decent performance after being fielded in the unfamiliar position of left-wing in the first half. He offered solidity in defence and managed to whip in some dangerous crosses when venturing forward. PA -
Michail Antonio 5 – Far too wasteful in the final third. While the 31-year-old held the ball up very well, he scuffed a number of shots at goal. Getty -
SUBS: Andriy Yarmolenko 6 – A hero last Thursday against Sevilla, but the Ukrainian wasn’t able to bail West Ham out of trouble this time around. AFP -
Pablo Fornals 7 – Gave the Spurs defenders something to think about after being introduced early in the second half. AP -
Nikola Vlasic N/A – Replaced Lanzini for the final 10 minutes. The Croatian was sloppy in possession. PA
“For us, he’s an important player, the type who if he starts or comes in, he can change the situation, because of a specific characteristic of superiority. Create chances for himself or the other. He has to continue to believe in himself more.
“He’s a young player with great space for improvement. He has to continue to work, to improve with and without the ball. To help the team at every moment because football is a team game and you have to be ready at every moment to help the team with or without the ball.”
Spurs currently sit fifth in the table, one place and three points behind Arsenal, although their North London rivals have a game in hand.
On Sunday, Tottenham are at home to Eddie Howe's Newcastle United that have dragged themselves away from the relegation after a fine run of form at the start of 2022, though they have lost their previous two games 1-0 - at Chelsea and Everton, respectively.
They also enjoyed a busy January transfer window, bringing in Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn and Matt Targett. The Magpies will be without Spurs defender Trippier this weekend who is continuing his rehabilitation from a broken bone in his foot.
“I think for sure Newcastle is another team now,” said Conte. “I know well the Newcastle manager. We played against him when he was the manager with Bournemouth.
“He’s a young manager but you can see his idea about football. I think that he’s a really important prospect as a manager.
“Newcastle signed good players during the transfer window and now for sure they’re another team. We have to pay great attention on Sunday.”
Everton 1 Newcastle 0: player ratings
-
EVERTON RATINGS: Asmir Begovic - 7: Rare start in place of the ill Jordan Pickford and no major saves in first half – one poor throw that gave Coleman no chance and went out for throw in. Good stops from Fraser and Willock after break. Getty -
Seamus Coleman - 7: Perfectly timed challenge to take ball off toes of Fraser with Scot almost through on goal in first half. Brushed Saint-Maximin off ball to start move for Iwobi winner. Reuters -
Mason Holgate - 7: Scrambled Krafth cross out of six-yard box with Begovic beaten and the goal begging early on game. Handled physicality of Wood well. PA -
Michael Keane - 7: Good defending to get his head in way of cross with Wood lurking. Guilty of some poor mistakes of late but no problems at the back here. PA -
Ben Godfrey - 6: Headed game’s first chance straight into arms of Dubravka early on – Everton’s only attempt on target until 77th minute. Beaten by Almiron’s pace in second half and was rescued by Begovic save from resulting ball into box. Getty -
Allan - 5: Brazilian was driving force to Everton’s frenetic opening to game. Booked for naughty challenge on Saint-Maximin on second half that was upgraded to red after VAR intervention. Cynical rather than particularly vicious tackle. Reuters -
Abdoulaye Doucoure - 5: Mixed game from midfielder, some driving runs forward but also caught in possession a few times dawdling on ball and gave away clumsy fouls. PA -
Demarai Gray - 4: Has the creativity that Everton craved but offered very little threat and was no surprise when he was eventually taken off in second half. PA -
Alex Iwobi - 7: Frustrated fans when he held on to ball too long towards end of first half before finally releasing an aimless ball out for throw in. Produced only bit of real quality from Everton in the opposition box to slot home vital winner for Everton. PA -
Alex Gordon - 7: Goodison Park certainly approved of his effort and workrate from start to finish - one crunching tackle on Fraser in first half had stadium roaring. Cut inside and fired in shot in second half that forced decent save from Dubravka. Reuters -
Richarlison - 5: Not a sniff on goal and got little joy out of Newcastle defence. Frustration got better of him after break when booked for obvious barge into Burn. One good ball into box that nearly picked out Calvert-Lewin. Spends too much time rolling around on ground. AFP -
UBS: Dominic Calvert-Lewin – (On for Gray 76’) 7: Almost got on end of Richarlison cross minutes after coming on. Supplied pass for winner. PA -
Andre Gomes – (On for Richarlison 87’) N/A. Reuters -
NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 6: Relatively quiet night for Slovakian. Decent enough save from Gordon shot in second half and no chance with Iwobi’s winner. Reuters -
Emil Krafth - 7: Fine run early on and low cross that needed a desperate clearance away. One well-timed tackle on Richarlison with Brazilian lining up shot in box. Volley easily saved by Begovic. Booked for foul on Richarlison. Reuters -
Fabian Schar - 7: Swiss defender took over captain’s armband and looked to mark the occasion by attempting to lob Begovic from free-kick in his own half, but only found keeper’s hands. Marshalled team well but couldn't stop defence being ripped open for late winner. PA -
Dan Burn - 7: Earned wrath of home fans after bulldozing through back of Gordon to win header early on. Continued his excellent form since moving to Tyneside, winning everything on the ground and in the air. Getty -
Matt Targett - 7: Played some decent balls into box from left that teammates failed to make best of and loan signing from Aston Villa was sound defensively throughout. PA -
Bruno Guimaraes - 7: Sliced open Everton defence with one beautiful pass that set Krafth away down right and was one of the few players who seemed capable of putting foot on ball and pick out a teammate with a pass. Curled shot well wide late in game. AFP -
Joe Willock - 6: Quiet first half going forward from former Arsenal midfielder. Then hit tame shot straight at Begovic just after half-time but forced good save out of keeper with chance early in the 14 minutes of added time at the end. AFP -
Joelinton - 7: Brazilian back from injury and straight back into the groove winning balls in centre of park and chasing down the opposition, although guilty of holding on to ball too long on occasions when going forward. PA -
Miguel Almiron - 6: Paraguayan attacker had shot from edge of area deflected wide for corner. His pace can cause problems – set up great chance for Fraser with one surging run - but goes down far too easily at slightest of challenges. Reuters -
Ryan Fraser - 6: Hit first-time volley well wide from edge of box after 15 minutes. Barged over on edge of box by Coleman in opening half but somehow not given free-kick. Had shot well saved by Begovic in second half. AFP -
Chris Wood - 5: Two tricky headed chances in first half hour – once hit straight at Begovic, the other over the bar. Little else from big striker. PA -
SUBS: Allan Saint-Maximin – (On for Almiron 71’) 4: Involved in game’s big incident when scythed down by Allan that led to Brazilian’s red card. Too easily pushed off ball in run up to Everton’s winner and was a liability for second substitute appearance in a row. Getty -
Jacob Murphy – (On for Fraser 85’) N/A. Getty -
Javier Manquillo – (On for Kafth 90+3’) N/A. AFP
