Tottenham in Champions League PSV the Rematch
By Aaron Coe
Tottenham Hotspur host PSV Eindhoven in a must win Champions League match. What can we expect from the two sides, as their European futures are on the line.
PSV Eindhoven
The picture is relatively clear when it comes to PSV Eindhoven. They continue to run roughshod over the Eredivisie with 11 wins from 11 matches and a plus 35 goal differential. That said, this past weekend proved to be their toughest game of the season thus far in league, winning 1-0 over Vitesse. Maybe the goal machine that is PSV is slowing down?
Hardly likely, although I would not be surprised to see PSV sit back and try to absorb Tottenham’s pressure, much like the first match and then hit on the counter. With Pereno, Lozano, and Luke de Jong leading the line for Eindhoven, they are a threat to score.
It is important to note this is PSV’s 6th Champions League game this campaign, after beating BATE in a play-in to make it to group play. Pereno, Lozano, and de Jong have six goals in the Champions League this season when including BATE, so the trio have all tasted the net.
As a Spurs fan, we have seen this picture before, a team sits back, parking the bus, and the question is can Tottenham unlock them and get the win the side desperately needs to keep a glimmer of hope alive in the Champions League.
The Pitch
We continue to hear stories about the pitch in the media. And while the Premier League was okay with the NFL shield being clearly visible on the turf, I cannot imagine the Champions League would be. Beyond the paint, the surface did look very rough for the City match and only so much could have been done before then. One must wonder, had Spurs held on against Inter and PSV in the first three matches, if there would be new sod. However, 1 point from 3 games means no new sod and we get what we get.
Tottenham Hotspur
The real question in this game is who is going to be representing Spurs on the pitch. With Mousa Dembele being added to the injury list this past weekend and Hugo Lloris serving a suspension for his red card in the last match with PSV, the numbers are dwindling.
Beyond Dembele and Lloris, Eric Dier, Danny Rose, Jan Vertonghen, and Victor Wanyama are all injured as well. Wanyama and Rose are tough losses as they just haven’t been able to stay healthy for the better part of the last two seasons. This is really one of Dier’s first times out of the side due to injury and frankly we all know he needed the rest.
Tottenham have been coping without Vertonghen; with Toby Alderweireld and Davison Sanchez pairing well at times and the recent bleeding-in of Juan Foyth has been great. However, like N’koudou and Vincent Janssen, Foyth is not on the Champions League roster. And although Foyth is young enough to be a B list player, he hasn’t been at Spurs long enough and will be too old next season anyway.
All this means that be default and injury we will see Alderweireld and Sanchez again and pray for neither to get hurt, as we don’t have a back-up in the squad. Again, injury says we will see Ben Davies, whose form hasn’t been great, but maybe a home game against PSV is just what he needs. Serge Aurier played in the Cup tie last week and having seen Kierien Trippier again make mistakes, we may just see Aurier again.
The midfield picture is no clearer for Spurs now either. Without Dier, Dembele, or Wanyama, the defensive stopper role likely falls to Mousa Sissoko. This would have been a great opportunity for Foyth, were he on the squad. Winks likely partners with Sissoko to provide Pochettino’s preferred double pivot.
The attacking band should be led by the full returns of Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, who along with Son and Kane round out the field players. Expect Spurs to attack, press, and try to dominate possession. The real question is how much they have learned from the squandered leads that have plagued the team in League and Europe this season.
The Keeper
Okay, so who knows who Pochettino will start, besides Mauricio himself. For my money it is Paula Gazzaniga whose is between the sticks. Vorm’s best days are behind him, it is good experience for Gazzaniga, and frankly Gazzaniga seems to instill more confidence in the squad at this point. Let’s hope he plays and has a good game, which is good for the team. Not saying he should replace Hugo, but we need a quality and relatively young back-up.
What to Expect
Well this game pretty much means the European Season for both sides. A tie really does neither any good and doesn’t make 3rd place and Europa League clear. Both sides need a win to both create that third place breathing room and to leave that tiny crack open for making the knockout stages. I’m not into prognostication, I just want too see Spurs play well and begin to assert their late fall dominance we have seen before. From there, let the European chips fall where they may. A loss and well maybe Spurs need to go all-in on the Carabao Cup or the Premier League.