Perhaps some people at Tottenham would have preferred to see Eberechi Eze sat in the stands at Chelsea safe from the risk of injury. Their pursuit of Eze has been long and arduous, and to see the process wrecked in its final stages would have rendered those efforts a complete waste of time.
Fortunately for all concerned, the Crystal Palace and England forward emerged unscathed from the draw Stamford Bridge and Spurs were treated to another example of his class as they inch closer to a £60million deal.
Not simply with the free kick scored and ruled out on a technicality or another sublime display but rather Eze’s attitude. His commitment to the Palace cause, his mental fortitude and determination to do the right thing.
‘His mentality is probably his strongest asset,’ says Chris Ramsey, who was head coach of Queens Park Rangers when they signed Eze at 18 on a free after his release from Millwall, and the technical director and head of coaching by the time they sold him to Palace four years later for £20million.
‘He has great self-belief, a spiritual person and a strong family unit around him. Some players lose focus with the first sniff of a move but there is all this noise going on and he doesn’t play like someone distracted. He is totally focused, grateful for the opportunity Crystal Palace have given him and that says a lot about him and the culture inside Palace.’
It cannot have failed to strike a chord with Thomas Frank, himself a man of principle.
Eberechi Eze emerged unscathed from the draw Stamford Bridge – and Spurs were treated to another example of his class
Frank’s team has appeared robust and effective in his first two games, although Eze would add a little fantasy
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Eze’s talent on the ball is beyond question. In five years at Palace, he has matured into a top-class footballer, understanding his role to the team and learning ways to impose his strengths on a game and influence results on the biggest stage.
After a subdued start to last season, his contributions since March when he scored his first England goal, against Latvia at Wembley, has been exceptional. Almost as if that was the final piece of the puzzle slotting into place. The goal to convince him he belonged in that sort of exalted company.
It was the first in a sequence of 10 goals in 13 games, including the opener in an FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham, the opener in an FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa and the only goal of the final against Manchester City.
There were goals against Arsenal and City in the Premier League and both goals in a 2-0 win at Tottenham in May.
‘He believes he is at that level,’ Ramsey tells Daily Mail Sport. ‘Stepping into the dressing room it is easy to feel imposter syndrome. He doesn’t have that. He knows he is good enough and just plays his game. Even with England, he doesn’t play safe. That’s the result of supreme confidence. Physically, he is at his peak.
‘Palace have done a really good job with him. Now, he is ripe. It would be a pity if he became overripe.’
Eze is 27, and yet most of the wealthiest clubs want to sign younger players, to develop them with sell-on potential. It might explain to some degree why Arsenal’s interest has dissipated. They have spent heavily on Viktor Gyokeres at the same age.
For Spurs, there is the insurance of a player proven in the Premier League and settled in London. There should be minimal adjustment beyond the tactical demands of the head coach, the habits of teammates and the rhythms of the team.
Chris Ramsey, who was head coach of Queens Park Rangers when they signed Eze at 18, hailed the England international’s mentality
After a subdued start to last season, his contributions since March when he scored his first England goal, against Latvia at Wembley, has been exceptional
Frank’s team has appeared robust and effective in his first two games, although Eze would add a little fantasy. It is something they expect in N17 and something they are short on with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevksi injured.
Mohammed Kudus produced bursts of excitement in his home debut and two assists for Richarlison in a 3-0 win against Burnley on Saturday.
It could be argued that Kudus and Eze are players who decorate rather than dominate a game, although that has always been the case with flair players. They will be inconsistent because of the high tariff of what they are trying to do.
Those who deliver in every time are truly among the greats of the game and modern football’s adjustment to these inconsistencies has been to build up a squad with a battery of flair options.
This player for this game and that player for that game and the flexibility to make changes from the bench when things are not going to plan. But very few are unaware of their defensive responsibilities, including Eze.
He might not track back and tackle but under Roy Hodgson and Oliver Glasner has learned to appreciate his role in the shape of the team.
‘There are different ways of analysing defensive strengths,’ adds Ramsey. ‘Even those not brilliant in one-v-one duels can work within a unit. It’s one of the things Palace have helped him to realise.
‘That doesn’t mean you have to be blocking shots like a centre half but when you have to defend with 10 you defend with 10, and understanding tactically what’s needed has become a massive part of his game.
There is no reason Frank cannot build a similar structure around his strengths, similar to what Oliver Glasner has constructed at Palace
‘At times when he was developing with us at QPR he used to overindulge but he has got to a point where the balance is good.’
At Palace, they found a way to make him most effective. With Jean-Philippe Mateta leading the line, Ismaila Sarr’s pace stretching opponents and creating space, Adam Wharton fizzing passes into his feet and wing backs tearing up and down the flanks.
There is no reason Frank cannot build a similar structure around his strengths, with a powerful defensive platform, speedsters out wide and a powerful centre forward capable of holding up the ball.
The future is starting to take shape at Spurs. Captain Cristian Romero has committed his future to the club, signing a new contract until 2029. Djed Spence has signed until the same year with the option of another year.
Savinho wants to join from Manchester City. Eze will be the jewel at the centre.
