Tottenham’s summer signing continues to impress even in defeat, as the defensive numbers stood out despite a disappointing loss to Aston Villa.

Tottenham Hotspur suffered their second defeat of the Premier League campaign under Thomas Frank at the weekend, falling 2-1 to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.

Rodrigo Bentancur’s early strike had initially given Spurs hope, but goals from Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia, both of which were stunning finishes, turned the game around in Villa’s favour.

Spurs were atrocious to say the least, with several players putting in subpar displays that left supporters frustrated, yet one man managed to stand tall amidst the poor collective showing.

Credit: @thefrederikkejensen / Instagram

Statistics from FotMob ranked Joao Palhinha as one of Tottenham’s top performers against Aston Villa, with only three players rated higher than him on the day.

Despite being on the losing side, his impact was clear to see, as he was central to Spurs’ defensive structure throughout the match.

The Portuguese midfielder acted as the anchor in Tottenham’s midfield, breaking up play and providing balance whenever Villa tried to build through the centre.

His numbers told the story of a player who gave everything for his side – recording 10 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 3 recoveries,...