Mauricio Pochettino has talked up Kyle Walker-Peters before the defender starts for Tottenham in Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Barcelona.
Spurs must match or better Inter Milan’s result – the Italians face PSV Eindhoven at the San Siro – in order to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Kieran Trippier limped off with a recurrence of a groin injury against Southampton last week, and Serge Aurier was substituted late on with an injury of his own against Leicester City on Saturday.
That means Walker-Peters, who signed a new contract on Monday, has the chance to impress against Barcelona, and Pochettino has already confirmed the 21-year-old will start at the Nou Camp.
“His quality is unbelievable,” Pochettino said in his Champions League press conference (via the club’s official website).
“Younger players always need trust and one day to be given a chance to play and to play here at a difficult place like the Nou Camp will make him stronger. We don’t have a doubt that he can perform.
“I’m so happy because from the beginning of the season we have three excellent players in that position, three players with different qualities. Kyle has the quality to play.
“He needs to feel free. He’s a very relaxed player and person and the most important thing is that we believe in him, we trust in him and whatever happens he will be a massive success at this club.”
Walker-Peters made his first Premier League appearance of the season off the bench at Leicester and has played in just one other game this term – the EFL Cup win at West Ham United.
The right-back has impressed whenever called upon under Pochettino, and the Argentinian appears to trust him despite the fact he has rarely played of late.
You would have thought that MP would have given him more game time since the start of the season(and also last season).
Why not play him more if “he is that good”.?Bad management if you ask me.
Also Trippier and Aurier have hardly been that good so far this season.