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Tottenham defender reveals big change in Pochettino’s philosophy

By Rucker Haringey

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 21: Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium on January 21, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 21: Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Etihad Stadium on January 21, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) /
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Toby Alderweireld says Tottenham are going all out for silverware

Tottenham fans haven’t had much to criticize Mauricio Pochettino about during his tenure at the club, but some Spurs fans do resent his lack of focus on cup competitions. According to star defender Toby Alderweireld, fans may soon lose the ability to criticize Pochettino on that front.

The talented Belgian defender insists that Tottenham will play “every competition with the ambition to win it.” That would represent a significant change in philosophy for Pochettino. He’s previously put a much higher value on Premier League matches than various cup competitions.

His statement should be music to the ears of Spurs fans throughout the world. Many of the club’s supporters are desperate for silverware of any description. Tottenham currently face a daunting task to catch Chelsea for a Premier League title. Fortunately, the club still find themselves involved in both FA Cup competition and the Europa League.

It’s entirely possible that Pochettino realizes one of those competitions represent his best chance at silverware this year. Chelsea would need to collapse to allow Spurs to catch them. Even if Tottenham ran the table, it’s possible that Chelsea won’t drop enough points to lose the title.

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Of course, the proof will be visible in the lineups Pochettino trots out in upcoming cup play. If he starts a lineup of fringe players against Fulham then we will know that nothing has really changed. If, on the other hand, he starts his strongest XI against the Championship side, we’ll know that Spurs are on the hunt for a trophy.

The challenge for Pochettino will be to field strong squads in light of his club’s current injury crisis. Danny Rose and Jan Vertonghen are both expected to miss significant match time in the near future. Neither player should return before March at the earliest. Don’t forget, Erik Lamela is still on the shelf with his mysterious hip ailment as well.

The absence of that trio makes it almost impossible for Pochettino to start “strong XIs” in every match. The physical limitations of his players are going to force him to pick and choose when he rests players. It will be interesting to see if the Spurs manager risks a match against a lesser Premier League opponent in an effort to conserve energy for the cup runs.

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Tottenham fans want silverware and Toby Alderweireld does too. Watch Mauricio Pochettino’s lineups closely over the next few weeks to see if Spurs will really be pushing for wins on all fronts.

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