Tottenham Hotspur secured another pre-season victory on Saturday afternoon, defeating Championship side Queens Park Rangers 2-0.
Ange Postecoglou is intensifying preparations for his second season as Tottenham manager, with the last few days proving very positive.
Spurs began their pre-season campaign with a 5-1 win over Hearts in Scotland on Wednesday night.
On Saturday, Tottenham played closer to home, traveling to West London to face QPR.
Yves Bissouma opened the scoring in the first half, with Dane Scarlett adding a second after the break.
This 2-0 win is another positive step for Tottenham as the Premier League season approaches.
### Ange Postecoglou on Yves Bissouma
The highlight of the afternoon was a superb goal from Bissouma.
The Spurs midfielder picked up the ball around 30 yards from goal, evaded a QPR player, played a slick one-two with Dejan Kulusevski, and rounded goalkeeper Paul Nardi to score.
Bissouma, who joined Tottenham two years ago from Brighton and Hove Albion, had never scored in a Spurs shirt before.
Although Bissouma is not typically a goalscoring midfielder, his first goal for Tottenham is notable.
Postecoglou, however, reminded everyone that this was “only a friendly” and emphasized the need for Bissouma to shine in the Premier League.
Speaking to Tottenham’s official website, Postecoglou said the performance against QPR could boost Bissouma’s confidence, but the real test is delivering in competitive games. He believes Bissouma is capable of such performances and wants to see it in meaningful matches.
“Yeah, but it is only a friendly,” Postecoglou said. “I want to see him do it in a game. He’s capable of it. That’s our challenge for all our guys. We know the capabilities are there, but we’ve got to produce it when it counts. He was good today, he’s been good in pre-season, and we’ve just got to keep pushing him,” he added.
### Make or Break Season Ahead for Bissouma
There was significant hype around Bissouma’s arrival two years ago.
Paul Merson described the deal as an “unbelievable signing,” and Jamie Redknapp considered Bissouma a “brilliant” addition to Tottenham.
However, Bissouma’s time at Tottenham has been mixed. He struggled for regular playing time under Antonio Conte but started last season impressively under Postecoglou.
Bissouma’s strong early-season form faded, and he was not at his best towards the end of the campaign.
Reports in May suggested Tottenham would consider selling Bissouma if a suitable offer came in.
With Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg heading to Marseille and Tottenham’s interest in Joao Gomes yet to materialize, Bissouma is likely to start the season in Tottenham’s lineup. This season could be crucial for him.
Bissouma, now 27, is heading into his third season at Tottenham and seventh in the Premier League. The talent is there, but Postecoglou needs to see consistent performances in the Premier League, and Saturday’s goal should be a stepping stone.
