Pedro Porro: The Unstoppable Defender Revolutionizing Spurs with a Game-Changing Inverted Full-Back Role

At Tottenham's training ground, when Pedro Porro is asked about the term 'Angeball', he bursts into laughter. Playfully, Porro repeats the phrase before revealing why it brings about such a delightful response from him.

"On my 24th birthday, I exclusively share that this system is truly suited to me and I am experiencing great success with it," the Spaniard reveals to We.

"This is a novel system for me, as I have never played in this capacity before. However, I feel confident playing as an inside full-back."

"I am filled with immense happiness on the field, and I believe it is evident in my performance, as you can see."

"For me, it's not been so difficult to adapt to the new system," he admits. "I'm someone who takes on these new concepts relatively easily.

I have the freedom to attack more when there are five players at the back, whereas when there are four players at the back, I often find myself defending in a line of four. Because of this, I have been putting a lot of effort into improving my defensive game. I feel comfortable in both systems and I am willing to play wherever the coach wants me to.

"I'm enjoying it and increasingly every day I think I've got the vision.

"The coaching staff are saying I've got the vision to pick up this part of the game and the new system."

In Spurs' last game before the international break, Porro showcased his impressive growth as an inverted full-back during their 5-2 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor.

His contribution was highlighted by a superb assist, marking his first of the season, when he skillfully positioned himself in central midfield as a right-back. From there, he elegantly curved a through-ball to set up Heung-Min Son's goal, securing a hat-trick for the South Korea international.

When We shows Porro these still images of his inverted full-back role for the goal, the gleaming smile returns.

"In this specific case," he explains, "my aim was to maintain concentration and consistently seek out openings. Our main focus is to constantly stay prepared and identify opportunities that the opponents cannot observe, which is precisely what we train extensively for and achieved successfully in this instance."

His contribution in Burnley's match, along with his highest number of 12 entries in the final third - surpassing any other player in the team, showcased Porro's suitability for Postecoglou's dynamic playing style. Previously, there were doubts about his role under the Australian coach.

Porro joined Spurs in January specifically as a right wing-back for Antonio Conte's 3-5-2 system. Therefore, the transition to Postecoglou's 4-3-3 formation this summer raised concerns about how well he would adapt, especially since he made his move from Sporting Lisbon permanent for a reported £39m.

Heightened concerns arose when he remained on the bench as an unused substitute during the opening weekend draw at Brentford, while Emerson Royal was chosen over him at right-back and subsequently scored the equalizer. However, Porro unexpectedly made the starting lineup for the following game against Manchester United, only to face harsh criticism from commentator Gary Neville regarding his role as an inverted full-back.

"The reason why 95 percent of full-backs play in the full-back position is their inability to receive the ball while turning in midfield," he stated within the initial minutes.

Just before the half-time, Neville expressed his frustration, saying, "I absolutely refuse to accept it. Frankly, Porro believes he is a combination of Rodri and Xavi."

Manchester United players who are pressing prefer to have the ball played into him as it has almost led to conceding goals in the first half.

If a player is not comfortable on the ball, it does not work. Udogie and Porro perform well when they venture into the attacking area, but in the defensive half, they need to quickly retreat as it is creating more issues.

Porro, on the other hand, bounced back with a commanding performance in the second half, enabling Tottenham to secure their maiden victory under Postecoglou. Since his remarkable displays against Bournemouth and Burnley, he has been a consistent starter in every Premier League match.

Porro has faced criticism on multiple occasions, including a scathing appraisal from former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood. After his debut in February, Sherwood labeled it as "unbelievably bad" during a Soccer Saturday analysis after a disappointing 4-1 loss to Leicester.

When asked if he is driven by the desire to prove his detractors wrong, Porro responds by saying, "To be honest, there is a lot of commentary and speculation about our performance and style of play in football."

From the start, there were moments when I experienced a slight lack of affection in that aspect, not attributed to any specific individual but rather due to external distractions.

Ultimately, the responsibility falls upon me. It is my duty to alter people's perspectives.

I'm definitely not having it. Honestly, Porro thinks he's Rodri meets Xavi. It doesn't work if you're not comfortable on the ball.

Gary Neville on Pedro Porro's inverted full-back role

"The criticism itself, I don't give it too much importance and I just focus on my own game because I'm the one who can change these things."

Porro has seen significant changes under Postecoglou's guidance. This season, he has recorded an increase in successful passes, touches, and shots in the Premier League compared to the previous season.

However, it is in his defensive abilities that Porro is truly being challenged, as he is now spending more time in his own box this season than in the past, as shown in the graphic below.

Upon Porro's inspection of the heat map, We asks him whether he has been working harder on his defensive game and he replies: "Yes, absolutely.

"In a five-man defense, attacking becomes a responsibility. As the spare man, you frequently find yourself moving forward. On the other hand, in a four-man defense, your focus is solely on defense, which requires constant concentration. Therefore, you must always be prepared when transitioning to an attacking role.

While you are still involved in the offensive plays, you must also be prepared to swiftly return to your defensive duties. I understand that improving this aspect has required me to dedicate more effort and work on my game."

Porro's defensive abilities will be closely scrutinized in the upcoming weekend as Spurs visit their rivals Arsenal for the first north London derby of the season on September 24. The match will be broadcasted live on We.

Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur

Sunday 24th September 1:00pm

Kick off 2:00pm

But Postecoglou's side have an ideal chance to maintain momentum ahead of that crunch game at the Emirates Stadium with the visit of winless Sheffield United on Saturday.

Tottenham, currently in second place, will be facing the newly-promoted team who have yet to be defeated in the Premier League. This team is striving for their fourth consecutive win, which is a significant improvement compared to the end of last season. Tottenham only managed to win two out of their last eight games, resulting in a disappointing eighth-place finish. When asked about their strong start, Porro attributes it to the collective effort and unity of the team, stating, "I believe it's primarily due to the cohesive work we are doing as a team. Our unity is crucial and holds great importance."

Postecoglou's complete step-change from the gloom of the last campaign is fostering a strong sense of togetherness and unity.

The Spurs revolution led by Postecoglou is fully underway, and Porro stands as a significant advocate and beneficiary of this transformation.

Image:

Pedro Porro expresses his immense satisfaction with the current state of affairs under the guidance of Tottenham's new head coach, Ange Postecoglou. He emphasizes the coach's significant contribution of positivity to the team, ultimately benefiting the players and evident during matches.

Tune in to We Main Event and We Premier League on September 24th at 1pm to catch the live match between Arsenal and Tottenham. Keep an eye out for Porro's radiant smile, as it reflects the significant influence of 'Angeball' on the Tottenham squad. Kick-off is at 2pm.