Mauricio Pochettino warned journalists to be careful about how they assess his team selections after a question about Tanguy Ndombele’s impact for Tottenham against Liverpool.
Ndombele came off the bench midway through the second half of the 2-1 defeat at Anfield and ended the game as Spurs’ best outfield player, giving the visitors a sense of control in midfield with his driving runs and quick passing.
Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko were preferred to the Frenchman in the starting line-up, and while neither midfielder played poorly – in fact Sissoko played a key role in Harry Kane’s opener – there was a feeling Ndombele should have featured from the beginning.
In his pre-match press conference, Pochettino was asked about Ndombele’s influence by the Athletic’s Jack Pitt-Brooke, who relayed the exchange on Twitter.
I asked Pochettino about Ndombele making a big difference.
"Big difference, doing what?"
"Those passes…"
"But the game was different, no? Be careful with how we assess. I was talking before the game, with 29 players, it’s so important to rotate and keep all motivated to play.."— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) October 27, 2019
Pitt-Brooke later shared a video of the question and answer in full.
Full clip here https://t.co/iLEapLjDz8
— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) October 27, 2019
Some have accused Pochettino of failing to see what Ndombele brought to the team after coming on, but it’s more likely the Argentinian was simply trying to defend the players who started.
Still, his comments about rotation are a bit concerning. Ndombele has surely done enough to prove he should be starting in one of Tottenham’s toughest games of the season, especially after impressing against Red Star in midweek.
What do you think about Pochettino’s comments? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Must have been when he was startled by the headlights. The guy is lost and has been for a year. All his fans need to check out our form away from home since January this year. Not the sign of a man or manager in control.
Poch is a really poor game manager he might be a good coach but that’s as far as it goes, his selection and substitutions are amateurish
Tactics are poxy team choice poxy the man tinker to much with the team should have kept same team as last week .an why does he keep playing Eriksson the man does not want to play for Tottenham. Drop him.poch has become guttless
So pleased that fans are now seeing through this man and realising the obvious.Have been criticising him for weeks and months; a fake,clueless,has his favourites,has no balls, the team is like a boat without a rudder.
The quicker he goes, the better but unfortunately thd damage has been done.
in one also why keep on with Eriksson hes gone leave him at home what part of he dose not want to be here dose Poch not understand pick players that give a dam
also am i being one eyed but i thought the pen they got was harsh as the liverpool player stuck hes leg between Auriers legs from behind as he tried to clear the ball ? just saying I.M.O
Poch makes a lot of misjudgments. He places too much emphasis on the emotional aspect of the game and sometimes fails to see the obvious. In a game against a team like Liverpool you need players who are physically and mentally strong. Ndombele is stronger than Alli and Eriksen. He should have started.
[…] gave a cold answer when asked about Ndombele’s performance at Anfield – read more here – and has received criticism for leaving the midfielder out following his impressive […]