Nuno Espirito Santo confident Tottenham can 'solve the situation of the group'

Spurs suffer 1-0 defeat to Vitesse Arnhem in Europa Conference League Group G

SPURS RATINGS V VITESSE: Pierluigi Gollini - 6: Italian goalkeeper forced into action when he stopped Baden Frederiksen ‘s shot from a tight angle. Not troubled again until Eli Dasa’s strike flew wide of his near post just after hour mark and then saved comfortably from same player minutes later. No chance with goal. AP

Japhet Tanganga - 5: Plenty of full-blooded challenges but distribution lacking at times and offered team no outlet down the right. AP

Davinson Sanchez - 7: Terrific sliding tackle to dispossess Eli Dasa and then clear the danger. Several important blocks and was one of few Spurs players to do himself any sort of justice. AP

Joe Rodon - 5: Awful pass out from back straight to opposition in first couple of minutes set the tone for Spurs’ team performance as a whole. Getty

Ben Davies - 6: Captain for the night but couldn’t inspire his teammates who were poor all over pitch. Alert defending to clear danger on edge of Spurs’ box after 63 minutes and reasonably solid performance. Getty

Harry Winks - 4: Rare opportunity for midfielder but did nothing to suggest he should be playing more. Harsh booking late on as he became an increasingly frustrated figure in second half. AP

Giovani Lo Celso - 6: Had chance to put Gil through on goal after 17 minutes but pass easily cut out that summed up his – and Spurs’ – first half. Finally made a positive contribution just after break with nice turn and driving run to set-up chance for Gil. AFP

Bryan Gil - 6: Risky challenge in box after 12 minutes had Vitesse claiming a penalty but referee having none of it. Struck crossbar with swirling shot straight after half-time which was easily closest Spurs came to scoring. Showed no urgency to try and stop Maximillian Wittek scoring winner. AP

Dele Alli - 3: A shadow of the player who was a star for club and country just a couple of seasons ago. No attacking threat at all and, despite his undoubted talent and experience, failed miserably to take any sort of grip on game or lead by example. EPA

Steven Bergwijn - 4: Struggled for fitness this season but returned to side back in his home country. Most memorable moment, though, was stupid booking for obstructing a Vitesse free-kick. AFP

Dane Scarlett - 5: Teenage striker made little impression on solid Vitesse backline although, in his defence, the service he received was woeful. First shot on goal straight at keeper just after break. Very harsh booking for foul on goalkeeper Markus Schubert. AP

SUBS: Dilan Markanday – (On for Scarlett 75’) 6: Nice turn and run before he was chopped down as he bore down on goal. Getty

Tottenham Hotspur manager Nuno Espirito Santo says his side can still qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League after a 1-0 loss to Vitesse Arnhem.

Nuno changed his entire starting XI and left all of his big guns at home in order to prepare for Sunday’s Premier League match with West Ham and a second string were undone by Maximilian Wittek’s 78th-minute strike.

The side Nuno picked still had nine international players, but they were never really in the game and Bryan Gil’s shot that hit the crossbar early in the second half was their only moment of note.

The result leaves them in third in Group G, two points behind Vitesse and three behind leaders Rennes at the halfway stage.

With the return fixture against the Dutch side in a fortnight and then a trip to the weakest team in the competition NS Mura to come, the Portuguese decided that leaving his big guns back in London for this game was a risk worth taking.

“You have to discuss the options, the decision was made,” he said. “We took a little moment to decide and we decided to bring the players that started, with the Under-23s to give us support.

“It was a tough match, tough match like we expected. Always away from home in Europe in the Conference League is tough. I think we compete well, in terms of attack I think we should finish the actions better. Some combinations were missing.

“There was a period in the second half when we lost a little bit of control but in terms of lack of focus in the moment of the goal, details that we should improve like we always do.

“The Conference League is always a chance to have minutes on the players, players who work hard and deserve. This is what it’s all about so let’s progress.

“In terms of the group I think we have two games at home against Vitesse and Rennes and then we have to play Mura. We can solve the situation of the group.”

Tottenham next travel to London rivals West Ham United on Sunday.