Nuno’s midweek mistake compounded by Tottenham loss to West Ham

Nuno decided to leave his entire first team at home for the midweek European encounter against Vitesse, a mistake compounded greatly by Tottenham’s loss to West Ham. 

All would have been forgotten if Spurs found a way to topple the Hammers in east London yesterday. Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be for Nuno’s men, whose performance in the 1-0 defeat fell miserably short of supporters’ expectations.

Nuno received backlash for his midweek decision to start what was tantamount to a reserve team, a move responsible for Tottenham’s 1-0 Europa Conference League loss to Vitesse on Thursday. It wasn’t just the fact that Nuno didn’t start any first team players in Holland, but more so due to his decision to leave every individual, those who could have made a difference off the bench, at home.

All of Nuno’s senior, first-team players, in preparation for Tottenham’s short trip to east London, enjoyed a full week of rest. Rest above all, Nuno thought, was precisely the medicine his team needed to upend a bitter London rival. He was wrong, and has to now face the scrutiny that comes with his bold, imprudent decision.

Nobody is surprised to see Nuno discount the Europa Conference League. The newly founded, third-tier European competition is about as prestigious as England’s Carabao Cup.

And while Tottenham was never going to prioritize their obligatory participation in the lesser of all European competitions, Nuno’s cavalier decision, regardless of how unintended, came across as irresponsible, naive, even disrespectful.

Vitesse bossed Tottenham’s second team. They were more determined, driven and desirous of a famous victory. And they got their just desserts. Nuno took a risk and it backfired, though he must have known that was a distinct possibility.

Prior to the West Ham match, the thought of losing, for Nuno and his coaching staff, must have been an unimaginable prospect, a horrifying outcome not worth contemplating. Now that the unthinkable has happened, Nuno must bear the heavy burden of his wayward decision.

He must find a way, in the wake of his worst week since taking over the helm as Tottenham manager, to right the wrong, dust himself off and atone for his unschooled, grievous miscalculation.