Kevin Danso believes Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League could mark a pivotal moment for the club’s domestic fortunes.
First-half strikes from Cristian Romero and Dominic Solanke secured Spurs’ first win of 2026 and extended their unbeaten home run in European competition to 24 matches.
The result arrives after a challenging spell for Thomas Frank’s side, who had endured a run of five games without a win, including three defeats, prompting scrutiny from fans and media alike.
Danso, who has Ghanaian heritage, is convinced the performance against Dortmund demonstrates the team’s capabilities and can serve as a blueprint for Premier League success.
“I think it was (a) very good (performance against Dortmund), especially in the first half, I think we showed what we’re made of and what we’re capable of and I think we just need to continue like that,” Danso said.
“It’s a different competition, a different type of game, and we know it’s a difficult phase right now. But we’re together. Unity was spoken about during the week after the weekend’s game, and we know we have to stick together, keep our heads on, do a bit more, and grind out the results.”
Romero’s leadership shines
Danso also singled out captain Cristian Romero for his influence on and off the pitch. The Argentine defender opened the scoring in the 14th minute, taking his season goal tally to five.
“He’s a person who leads by example on the pitch and everything he does, he goes 100 per cent,” Danso said. “And you know, he helps the team, he’s a leader on and off the pitch, and he showed that exactly again by scoring to put us in front.”
Heitinga’s impact on the squad
The Austrian defender also praised the recent appointment of Dutch legend John Heitinga as assistant coach. “He’s been a great addition, you know, I think he’s got a lot of experience. Everybody knows, and he’s just been a great addition, you know, keeping us on track, that’s exactly what we need. We’re happy to have him,” Danso said.
Handling criticism and injuries
Addressing the harsh criticism from fans during the injury-hit period, Danso acknowledged the frustration but emphasized accountability. “Yeah, I mean, the frustration from the fans is understandable. Of course, we want to win games, and that’s what we try to do. We take it on board, but ultimately it’s down to us, the players on the pitch, to do our best and get the results we deserve. We’re all professionals, and injuries happen,” he said.
Danso insisted that Spurs must carry their European momentum into the Premier League. “Sometimes you go through difficult phases, but as I said, we just have to keep our heads down and grind it out… Definitely, it’s down to us in the end, and in every game, we try to give our best.”
Next challenge
Tottenham travel to relegation-threatened Burnley on Saturday, looking to translate their Champions League performance into much-needed league points and maintain the morale boost from their European triumph.
The clash offers Spurs a chance to end their domestic slump and reinforce the unity and resilience that Danso believes are key to turning around their season.
