Miloš Veljković Declines New Tottenham Contract

What does Miloš Veljković declining a new contract tell us about the state of Tottenham’s defense?

Just days after we questioned how the introduction of a new centre-back into the Tottenham squad in January would impact the development of the club’s younger players, it has suddenly become a little easier to come upon an answer. Youth academy product Miloš Veljković has declined an offer for a new contract at Tottenham.

The 20-year-old Serbian’s decision is at once disappointing and understandable. He has been widely regarded as an up-and-coming talent within Tottenham’s youth ranks, perhaps even a future starting XI regular. Mauricio Pochettino has not given him chances, however, and with other clubs knocking on his door, Veljković has evidently elected to stop being patient.

As recently as this summer Veljković had suggested he might be worthy of a call up. Playing in his customary centre-back position, he was a crucial cog in Serbia’s Under 20 World Cup campaign. Over seven games – four of which were knockout round games that went into extra time – Serbia conceded a mere four goals. Veljković played every minute of every one of those games, including the 2-1 final victory over Brazil.

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Having helped earn such a notable trophy for his country, Veljković likely returned to the Enfield training field in July believing that he would be given a shot on Tottenham’s first team. By late August, however, it was clear that this would not be his year to gain regular first team minutes. He was not included on Tottenham’s official roster and has spent the weeks and months since training with the development squad.

What prevented Pochettino from promoting a player of such evident quality? There’s a lot we have no way of knowing. Maybe Veljković wasn’t willing to work for it. Maybe Pochettino had promised him a role in the future and Veljković wasn’t willing to wait. Maybe Pochettino and his coaching team simply don’t rate the young Serbian.

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There is some facts that are clear, however. The most dramatic improvement to this Tottenham team since last season has been in defense, and that’s by no means an accident. Pochettino and Daniel Levy have very consciously restocked and restructured the entire team with the sole objective being to stop leaking goals. However promising Tottenham were in Pochettino’s freshman term with the club last season, the porous backline constantly threatened to undo whatever progress was being made. The club needed a defensive foundation on which to build.

To that end, Pochettino and Daniel Levy cut the fat and brought in Premier League experience in the form of Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier. Eric Dier was shifted into defensive midfield, where his time spent at centre-back and right-back could inform his decisions and playing-style. Even if there is still some work to be done on the wings, Kyle Walker, Danny Rose and Ben Davies have all improved their marking and containment from the full-back positions.

It therefore makes sense that those back five outfield defenders have been subject to the least rotation in the entire squad. Pochettino elects to field Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Eric Dier at almost every opportunity, including Europa League fixtures. It’s not that he lacks faith in those players – barring Federico Fazio – that might otherwise have been brought up to give them a rest; it’s that he believes that Tottenham will only improve as its defenders get more and more minutes together.

In a team that is so focused on organization and coordination, it is this defense that is the most well-grooved aspect of the team this season. Pochettino might feel that bringing up a player like Veljković would disrupt a harmony that is still, three months into the season, very much a work-in-progress.

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And so Veljković finds himself on the outskirts of the team. Maybe, given time, he could find himself slowly promoted up to the bench and eventually the starting XI. He certainly has all the potential to do that and more. Potential, unfortunately, is not what Pochettino – and Tottenham as a whole – need right now in defense. They need experience and rhythm, not experimentation.

Veljković will earn a first team spot on another team, without doubt, particularly if the clubs rumored to be interested in him – Serbian giants Red Star and Partizan Belgrade – actually make a move for him. Maybe one day Tottenham looks back on their prodigal son and wish they had taken a chance. At the moment, though, that is not in the team’s best interest.