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Questions for Tottenham to Answer at Dinamo Zagreb

By Aaron Coe

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 24: Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur scores their team's first goal with a overhead kick during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Tottenham Hotspur and Wolfsberger AC at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 24, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 24: Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur scores their team's first goal with a overhead kick during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Tottenham Hotspur and Wolfsberger AC at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 24, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Tottenham Coach Mourinho
Tottenham Hotspur’s Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on February 28, 2021. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Mourinho Needs to Manage the Minutes

Being a manager is a very tricky task in a normal year. Add in the uncertainty and compressed scheduled created by the Covid pandemic and being a manager is almost impossible. Tottenham has a number of players that need to have their minutes monitored as the Spurs enter a critical stretch of the season.

How long does Harry play?

It is not about if Harry Winks plays 90 minutes or not, 90 would probably do the young-man some good. Rather, the story of the game is how long does Harry Kane play. The pre-match presser made it sound likely Kane plays, in which case he is probably going to start. Something we thought was possible during our projected XI.

If Kane starts the goal would be for him to come off at halftime or play no longer than 60 minutes. Maybe Harry starts on the bench and things go well and he never actually plays but it sounds like he is going to go, the question is really just how long.

Still, Betting on Bale?

If Tottenham Hotspur is to win big this season, Gareth Bale is likely going to have to come through more moving forward. With it likely Bale plays three matches for Wales next week or at least two, how much – if at all – does the Welshman play on Thursday. Surely Bale plays against Aston Villa on Sunday, the question is if he makes an appearance Thursday or not.

Our projected XI has Bale on the bench, which is where he should stay – hopefully – assuming all goes well on Thursday.

Giovani Lo Celso is Returning

There was good news in the pre-match presser in the match that Giovani Lo Celso is available for the match and seems likely to play. Whether or not Lo Celso starts from the beginning or not, having the Argentine back is a good thing. Getting him some minutes now, in real competitive football, before the break and stretch run is very important.

The question on Lo Celso, like Kane and Bale, is how much the man will go on Thursday. Unlike Kane and Bale, there is also the question of where does Lo Celso plays. The Argentine is naturally more of a number 10 or center attacking midfielder. However, Lo Celso has spent time at left midfield/win as well as in a deeper position ala Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.

So where the Argentine plays might be as interesting as to how much he plays. Regardless, having Lo Celso back means someone may be moving to the outside of the rotation. The last time Lo Celso was healthy that was Dele Alli. That may or may not be the case this time and with Heung-Min Son out injured, it is a question for another day. The good news is Lo Celso is available and we should see him in the game.

Next. Tottenham Projected XI at Dinamo. dark

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