Tottenham Projected XI for Midweek Must Win versus Chelsea

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Tottenham Hotspur’s Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (L), Tottenham Hotspur’s Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (C), Tottenham Hotspur’s French midfielder Moussa Sissoko (2nd R) and Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker Harry Kane (R) November 21, 2020. (Photo by KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Tottenham Midfield Three

With so much not going the way Spurs want of late, expect José Mourinho to revert back to something he knows, which means back to Højbjerg and Sissoko as the two holding midfielders. While we believe Tanguy Ndombele will be in that attacking role, there is the possibility he may be out, in which case, expect to see Erik Lamela get the call.

Pierre Højbjerg (DM)

Pierre Højbjerg has been a staple in the Tottenham midfield since the moment he penned his contract with Spurs coming over from Southampton. Playing nearly every minute of every game, Højbjerg is another who maybe could use some more rest but Chelsea is not the time and Skippy is still at Norwich. While we would LOVE to see PEH as the LONE holding midfielder in an inverted midfield triangle, we just do not see José doing that at this time.

Moussa Sissoko (DM)

Maybe we see Harry Winks here, but odds are Moussa Sissoko is going to get the call because he provides more defensive stability than does Winks. While the Sissoko/Højbjerg pairing is not nearly as dynamic with the ball as Winks/Højbjerg might be, it is a more assured defensive pairing.

Tanguy Ndombele (CAM)

We certainly hope Ndombele’s knock picked up against Brighton was a temporary thing, as Spurs can ill afford to lose another player, especially in the middle of the pitch. If Ndombele is available, he starts and plays until he cannot play any further. Ndombele has been solid in possession and has found some shooting boots of late as well. Tanguy needs to be on the ball more but also does that better in a more open match.

Erik Lamela (CAM)*

So if we find out Tanguy is actually injured and will miss the match against Chelsea, we look for Erik Lamela to fill that central attacking midfield spot on the pitch. Gareth Bale prefers to be wide and Steven Bergwijn really needs space so Lamela makes the most sense if Tanguy can’t go.