Spurs coach Matty Wells heaps praise on Dominic Solanke – ‘Second to none’

Since arriving at Spurs this summer, Dominic Solanke has already shown glimpses of brilliance that suggest he might just be the number nine the team has been yearning for.

Matty Wells, Spurs assistant manager, has heaped praise on the forward’s contributions, and his words paint an exciting picture of what lies ahead.

Filling the void left by a legend

When Harry Kane departed for Bayern Munich, he left behind a legacy that seemed almost impossible to replace. Kane wasn’t just a goalscorer—he was a talisman, a creator, and a leader, embodying everything that Spurs stood for on the pitch.

His exit left a gaping hole not only in terms of goals but also in the team’s overall play. As such, finding a new focal point for Ange Postecoglu’s attacking system became a pressing priority.

This summer, Tottenham made several key signings, but none has caught the eye quite like Dominic Solanke. The forward arrived off the back of an impressive spell at Bournemouth, where he netted 19 goals in the Premier League last season.

The hope among Spurs fans was clear: if Dominic Solanke could achieve such numbers playing for Bournemouth, what might he achieve with better service in a more dominant team?

While the pressure to succeed at a club of Tottenham’s stature can be overwhelming, Solanke has embraced the challenge head-on. Adapting quickly to Postecoglu’s system, he has shown not just an eye for goal but a willingness to press and link up play – bring his teammates into the game.

In ten league matches so far, he has scored four goals, but his contributions go far beyond mere numbers, as his general play has drawn admiration from fans and pundits alike.

Matty Wells: “We’re really, really pleased”

Speaking about Solanke’s impact, Matty Wells didn’t hold back in his praise for the striker, highlighting the qualities that make him so integral to Spurs’ new-look attack.

Speaking on the Inside Spurs podcast on the club’s official YouTube channel, Wells said: “Football-wise, it’s his all-around game and his pressing—it’s second to none. You look at his physical numbers, which he’s producing every week; in just two game weeks, he’s doing it against Manchester City and then Aston Villa at the weekend.

“Then, he’s coming on in Turkey and making a huge impact off the bench. His mentality, first and foremost, is outstanding, and his physical capacity to continually churn out those numbers is really impressive. It also helps that he’s a top finisher who doesn’t just score goals but makes them as well, linking our play together beautifully. We’re really pleased to have him, and long may it continue.”

For a player who has stepped into such a demanding role, this level of trust and confidence from the coaching staff is a testament to Solanke’s hard work and natural ability.

Dominic Solanke fits the Spurs system perfectly

What sets Solanke apart isn’t just his goalscoring ability but his determination to buy into Ange Postecoglu’s pressing system—a philosophy that demands relentless effort and a high footballing IQ.

As Wells noted, “You can coach the angles, you can coach the pressing structure, but if you don’t have the willingness to do it, at some point, that’s going to get exposed. And if you don’t have that true belief in the pressing, then that’s going to wane off at that point.”

In Solanke, Tottenham have a player who is not only willing but eager to press, cover ground, and create opportunities for others. This level of commitment has endeared him to the Spurs faithful, who are beginning to see shades of a player ready to give his all for the team. His mentality mirrors the ethos that Postecoglu is instilling in his side, and this alignment is a key reason behind his early success.

If Solanke can continue to perform at this level and add more goals to his game, his status within the team could rise to new heights. For now, though, the signs are encouraging: Spurs may have found not just a replacement for Kane, but a forward ready to carve out his own legacy in north London.

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