At no stage did Spurs look comfortable. They struggled to cope with the occasion as well as the opponent. Galatasaray are undoubtedly dangerous but Tottenham made it easy for them to dominate. They clearly still have serious problems to address, especially in defence.
The defeat is one thing and it is not disastrous to Spurs’ chances of reaching the knockout rounds of the Europa League, but to lose a game in this fashion; without any semblance of control or composure, is worrying for Ange Postecoglou and his players.
You can point to the fact this was a young side, with three teenagers in the starting XI, but that does not really offer an excuse for the defensive frailties that were once again exposed by a team with Galatasaray’s speed and guile, as well as a centre-forward in Victor Osimhen dangerous enough to punish them.
So often did a Spurs player give the ball away, so frequently did they make a mistake or fail to stick close to, or track, the man they were supposed to be marking. It was embarrassingly bad.
Galatasaray scored three goals in the first half and it should have been more. Osimhen, who ran Spurs ragged with his movement and pace, scored twice, but missed two more wonderful chances when he was left with only goalkeeper Fraser Forster to beat.
