Who does Tottenham start in Champions League match versus Red Star?
By Gary Pearson
With Red Star Belgrade on the midweek Champions League docket, Tottenham don’t have too much time to dwell on their disappointing draw with Watford.
Like most of Tottenham’s forthcoming matches, the home test against the Serbian side is a must win. Red Star swept aside Olympiakos 3-1 in their last Champions League match, increasing the stakes for Tuesday. A home win is the only way Tottenham can contemplate advancing to the knockout stages of this season’s competition.
So who does Mauricio Pochettino put his faith in for the all-important European encounter?
A few of the names on the team sheet, including Dele Alli, Harry Winks, Heung-Min Son, Harry Kane, Paulo Gazzaniga are all but guaranteed to crack the starting 11.
Tanguy Ndombele was rested for the start of the Watford match, so expect to see him line up in a predictable, conventional formation beside Winks in front of the back four. Personally I wish Pochettino would opt for only one defensive central midfielder. However, due to the current lack of confidence and considering where the match is being played, don’t expect Pochettino to go out on a limb.
While Jan Vertonghen probably deserves to start on the bench after his woeful performance against Watford, Davinson Sánchez, the gaffer’s alternate choice, didn’t exactly impress either. I think Jan is the lesser of two evils for this one.
Juan Foyth deserves the start at right back but I’m not sure Pochettino will opt for the less experienced Argentinian in a match of this nature. I hope he does, but there’s a good chance Aurier, even after a horrible outing against Bayern last time out, gets the nod. The Ivorian was one of Spurs best players against Watford, a minor consolation.
Ryan Sessengon isn’t quite ready to start in the Champions League. Expect him to get the nod in the next Premier League match, though. That means we’re probably stuck with Danny Rose for this vital encounter.
dark. Next. Playing three centre backs against Watford a peculiar decision
Dele, Son and Kane are all shoo ins, an attacking triumvirate I hope is complemented by Lucas Moura’s services. That quartet has the ability to put any defence in Europe under noticeable strain.