From Tottenham to Augsburg to Millwall, it’s been a testing period of Japhet Tanganga’s career but he has admirably faced up to each challenge
AFTER 89 minutes against Birmingham City and with a corner kick on the horizon, Millwall needed a hero. But who, if anyone, would it be? Might Michael Obafemi emerge from the scrum in the box and score for a second time in a week? Maybe the reliable Jake Cooper would end his 13-month goal drought and get the finishing touch. Talking of goal droughts, Ryan Leonard somehow hasn’t found the net since October 2020 and might have fancied his chances and when it comes to Lions goal scorers, the in-form Zian Flemming is never far away from the conversation.
Destiny was staring a few players square in the eye as George Saville conjured up a perfect in-swinging delivery and it was Japhet Tanganga who popped up to head home, securing three points that allow Millwall to breathe Championship fresh air for the first time in a number of weeks.
In normal circumstances, a five-point gap to the relegation zone with a game to go until the March international break would be a major cause for concern. But in the context of the Lions’ season, and the tremendous impact Neil Harris has managed to make in such a short space of time, five points feels huge.
Now Plymouth Argyle, Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City, Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham all sit between Harris’ side and the final two occupants of the relegation zone, Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday. There is still much work to do but the odds of Millwall getting relegated from here have receded dramatically compared to a few weeks ago.
This side are now an ironic inverse to what they were under Joe Edwards, when they often played well but could not translate that into regular results. First half dominance of Birmingham aside, Harris’ side haven’t fully clicked and yet the 10 points picked up in four games speaks for itself.
This momentum means fans can arrive at Leeds United on Sunday with genuine optimism that the game won’t go how the league table suggests it should.
How different might the mood be if Tanganga hadn’t rescued that topsy-turvy second half performance with his late goal? And what if the Tottenham Hotspur loanee didn’t put his head where it hurt to kick-start the Harris return with his early goal at Southampton?
Brought in during the January window for his defensive expertise, Tanganga has suddenly found a knack for scoring big goals and has impressed his manager with his character off the pitch.
Harris said on Saturday: “Japh is a very talented footballer and one-v-one defender and if you come to Millwall, you come for different reasons. Everybody knows that, no one’s stupid in the game. Sometimes you’re not going to dominate the ball, you have to have backs to the wall, you’re going to be asked a lot of questions. And if you’re not prepared to do that as a player, don’t come to this football club.
“Japh’s one who, in particular, since I walked in the building, he’s grown in personality in three weeks already. I’ve seen his character change, I’ve seen the confidence in him. He spoke at half-time the other day and I was really delighted with it and the lads said that’s the first time they’ve heard him speak openly in front of the group with passion.”
There’s something quite likeable about Tanganga. A lot of players who had recently been playing for Tottenham under the likes of Jose Mourinho, with European experience under their belts and on loan in the Bundesliga, would have turned their nose up at an offer from Championship Millwall.
Instead Tanganga excitedly spoke about the challenge when interviewed by NewsAtDen, along with going out of his way to compliment his former teammates and staff members at Augsburg, where he failed to make a single appearance (in part due to injury) in what to many would have been a bruising hit to the ego. Instead of having any shame, the 24-year-old spoke openly about the experience, didn’t shy away from the question and admitted he questioned himself if he could have done more while in Germany.
In the same interview, Tanganga made it clear he was enticed to The Den due to Edwards’ style of football. But then just like at Augsburg, the head coach who recruited him was sacked not long after.
The centre-back might have felt a sense of deja vu but yet he has stayed focused, kept his place in the team despite the switch in formation and managed to thrive despite the stylistic changes Harris has implemented.
From making 77 touches in Edwards’ last game in charge against Sheffield Wednesday, Tanganga has made between 33 and 48 in the four games since. From 57 completed passes against Wednesday, that number has dropped to between seven and 27 under Harris. His pass completion percentage and ball carries have also plummeted.
In short, Tanganga has had to transform from the stylish defender developed to play a certain way at Tottenham to becoming a battle-hardened soldier under Harris and he has made the switch pretty seamlessly, all while still looking classy and in control. The positive attitude he has shown both in interviews and in the dressing room spells out the mentality he has, while Billy Mitchell has spoken glowingly about his leadership qualities, his calm influence and how he’s a “great lad who’s easy to talk to”.
Being a football player is all about finding a way to deal with the emotional ups and downs that will come on an almost weekly basis in this crazy sport. Having gone from playing in the Champions League to battling relegation in the Championship with a difficult situation at Augsburg and injuries in between, Tanganga has been on a footballing journey that many would have struggled with. Instead of losing his way, he has shown an upbeat attitude and an impressive adaptability that leaves him on the path back to being the best version of himself.
