Tottenham'southward defence has already seen improvements under Antonio Conte without any fresh faces being added.

Emerson Regal and Cristian Romero were the two defenders who made the move to N17 during the summertime but the latter has already picked up a serious injury, keeping him out of action until at least early next year.

Purple has been occupying the right wing-back position and although all the same adapting and with improvements to his game nonetheless needed, he seems to have settled into the side well.

However, it is the Lilywhites players who were already at the society who are stepping upward and impressing under Conte, despite some of them having been previously written off past their critics.

The Italian has already had a rollercoaster outset to his managerial chapter at Tottenham, having had to deal with the international break, injuries and the effects of the Omicron variant of Covid.

However, the Lilywhites currently sit seventh in the Premier League, half dozen points behind the summit four only with three games in hand over those teams.

A back four nether Nuno Espirito Santo has transformed into a back three with 2 fly-backs under the 52-year-old and it has been working well, despite the absence of Romero.

In the concluding 4 fixtures it has been Ben Davies, Eric Dier and Davinson Sanchez occupying the backline, with all three existence criticised and written off by fans in the by. However, all have improved under Conte and it hasn't gone unnoticed.

Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier have played alongside each other in a number of games to far this season

Davinson Sanchez and Eric Dier take played alongside each other in a number of games to far this season

One-time Tottenham player William Gallas gave his verdict on the Lilywhites defense, in an exclusive interview with Genting Casino a couple of weeks agone.

"Spurs...are in a skilful position at the moment," the ex-Lilywhites defender said. "They look stronger. They are tighter at the back, which is very important at the beginning [of a director'southward tenure].

"If you are potent at the back, if you are strong as a squad, you know at whatever time you can score, considering you lot've got good strikers. The squad looks completely different now.

"Serie A was one of the best leagues because the defenders were very strong – it was really hard to score against Italian clubs, for the teams I played in.

"If nosotros talk almost tactics, they're practising every week on how they have to defend as a team. I'm certain Antonio Conte brought his tactics, and I feel that is important every bit to why Tottenham look better."

In Midweek'south Carabao Cup game against Westward Ham, the dorsum three blocked three shots and fabricated 10 clearances, three less than those made in the previous fixture against Liverpool (according to Whoscored.com).

Davies alone has had 80 per cent tackle accuracy and sixteen clearances in the league, besides every bit registering an assist.

The Welshman has been making forward runs when given the opportunity but ensuring he helps keep a stiff line at the back, which Jamie Redknapp praised after the 2-ane victory over David Moyes' side.

"Would anyone had guessed he [Davies] would play all his games? He's been fantastic - today [Wednesday], arguably man of the match," Redknapp explained.

"He knows the game, he knows the position, back-three - information technology might only suit him. Information technology suits him playing this germination so information technology'southward nearly getting the best out of his team right now."

The defender has feel playing in this function when he plays for Wales and being the merely left-footed option in this position, it is made for him.

Ben Davies has been praised for his recent Tottenham performances

Ben Davies has been praised for his recent Tottenham performances

Dier has featured in all 15 of Tottenham'southward Premier League games so far this flavour, despite facing much criticism from fans over mistakes in his game and his case wasn't helped when he scored an own goal against Newcastle in October.

However, with the inflow of the Italian, the defender is another who has made a big step upward as he occupies the central role in the back three and has shown his leadership qualities throughout matches.

"I'm a big fan of his [Dier], always take been to exist honest," Redknapp admitted. "He stood up to be counted, I think at that place's a lot of players who didn't perform under Jose [Mourinho], didn't perform under Nuno.

"I think this system suits him where he plays in the middle considering he's got a lovely range of passing, he gets the right corporeality of motion looking forrard with passes like this when you have your wing-backs going.

"He's got the fourth dimension to exercise information technology because the two either side split. Requite him this infinite, give him this opportunity that's what you lot want from him.

"He had David Luiz in this organisation when he was at Chelsea, Antonio Conte. I think the biggest judgement will exist his defending. Can he keep clean sheets?"

Former Spurs defender Michael Dawson also echoed the praise of the defenders. "Eric Dier has been a mainstay since he's come in, playing centre of a three. He'south brought Ben Davies back," he said.

The defence was ane area that many fans wanted improving in the upcoming transfer window at Tottenham, with many feeling in that location was a need to step up and Gallas seems to agree.

"In my opinion they lack globe course defenders," he explained. "Yet, as I said, they look better and take improved under Conte and are heading in a better direction.

"If you desire to win something, if you lot want to compete with the best teams, you need to buy world-class players, whatever the position."

There will at present be a debate over whether those defenders do still need to be bought when the back three are performing well, and that is without last season'due south Serie A defender of the year.

Once Romero returns and Conte has more than time with his current defenders, at that place may non exist a need to recruit anyone else for the backline.

Although if players are brought in in other positions and there is a step upwards seen in other positions on the pitch, there may and then exist a noticeable gap in quality in defence.