Tottenham’s right-backs enjoy friendly rivalry

One of the more unexpected twists of Tottenham’s season was the pseudo-rivalry that developed between Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier over the final month.

That competition is set to carry over into the following week’s pair of matches with England, for which both Tottenham right-backs received a call-up.

There are two, possibly inter-related versions over how this rivalry came to be.

First, there’s the matter of Walker’s fitness. Though he’s perhaps the best right-back in England on his best days, Mauricio Pochettino reportedly had reason to doubt that Walker was capable of playing multiple times in one week. With Spurs attempting to compete in the Champions League as well as England’s top flight, that’s a talent every member of the starting XI must possess.

With Kieran Trippier having proven himself in brief flashes at prior points in the season, Pochettino elected to field the former Burnley man for a number of key matches to end the season. Subsequent reports suggested that Walker was none too pleased at being dropped to the bench, especially for matches against rivals Chelsea and Arsenal.

More from Tottenham News

• Storybook ending after difficult period for Tottenahm’s Richarlison
• Tottenham comeback showcased invaluable intangible Ange has cultivated
• Tottenham player ratings in 2-1 comeback win over Sheffield United
• Tottenham projected starting 11 for Sheffield United
• Tottenham’s Richarlison says he’s going to seek psychological help

Secondly, and far more mundanely, there is the matter of money. Walker reportedly wants more of it, and Manchester City is supposedly prepared to double his £70,000 a week salary next season. It’s not difficult to see why Pochettino might want to proactively explore his options in preperation for a future without Walker.

Whatever acrimony that results from those two dramas, it doesn’t appear to manifest itself at all in the relationship between Walker and Trippier.

SkySports spoke with Walker before England’s pair of matches against Scotland and France over the next week, and the 27-year-old did his part to douse any rumors of turmoil.

"“(The rivalry) has pushed us both on as players, most definitely. We get the best out of each other. Even if Trips plays, or I play, we’ve said privately to each other than we’ll will each other on.“I don’t ever say a bad word or wish bad on him because it’s more about the team rather than individual performances. We’re putting on our England shirts now and I’m sure, whoever gets the nod, the other will be behind him.“I’ve known Trip since U19s. We had a tournament with England in Ukraine. I played centre-half and he played right-back I believe, and it was a friendly rivalry. We’re two northern boys down south and we bounce off each other. We get on really well.”"

Walker also declined to get into his potential move away from the club, though that’s hardly a surprise. No formal bid had been offered, with City reportedly waiting to get the gears moving until after the player returns from international duty.

Next: Tottenham happily bear weight of England's future

As for how Tottenham move on from Walker, Trippier looks to be the leading candidate to replace him — though with the transfer window fast approaching there are bound to be still more twists to come.