Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has spoken to the press today ahead of our trip to Watford on New Years Day (This Sunday).
The Argentinian has stated that Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld should be available for selection following his recovery from a virus which kept him out of a trip to Southampton midweek. The Spurs manager was keen to stress he did not miss lead the fans over the players injury stating;
“I think the press conference was five days before the game [against Southampton] because it was Christmas and I didn’t want to disturb you. But he got a virus one day before the match and there’s nothing we could do about that. We hope he’ll be available for Watford.”
The manager was quick to dismiss reports that Kevin Wimmer could be leaving the club after a German reporter posted a picture of the player at his former club claiming a loan deal had been done. In reality Kevin was back visiting friends in the area and at the club over Christmas when the picture was taken.
“No, we are not talking about that internally,” he said. “I’m happy with him – he’s still very young. We bought him not only for the present but for the future. There’s nothing to discuss about him. I don’t expect players to leave the club in January. There’s no sense.”
Erik Lamela is still out but is fighting to be back soon, just working on his fitness following a long injury lay off. Jan Vertonghen and Kyle Walker are both suspended.
Pochettino like always side stepped all questions about signings in January including many about reported moves for Ross Barkley of Everton and Isco at Real Madrid.
One thing that has made Pochettino happy is the fact that the FA have decided not to punish Jan Vertonghen with a retrospective ban after the Belgian caught Southampton’s Jay Rodriguez in the face with his hand on Wednesday.
While Vertonghen is about to serve a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the Premier League season at Southampton, ruling him out of Sunday’s match at Watford, that will be the extent of his absence – and Pochettino has praised Rodriguez, who previously played under him at St Mary’s Stadium.
“The clip, in the first moment you could say it was maybe intentional but it wasn’t intentional,” said Pochettino. “The reaction of Jay Rodriguez was fair play – they talked.
“Maybe it looked bad but when you review it again it was an action that maybe you don’t realise… I’m happy that there’s no action from the FA to Jan, and I want to say the behaviour of Jay Rodriguez as a team-mate, as a player, was fantastic.
“It’s difficult to keep calm in those moments. In football we need more actions like this to understand both sides.”
(Ham & High)
