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Tottenham are poised to hand Serge Aurier the start against Dortmund

By Rucker Haringey

RECIFE, BRAZIL - JUNE 14: Serge Aurier of the Ivory Coast holds off a challenge by Shinji Kagawa of Japan during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group C match between the Ivory Coast and Japan at Arena Pernambuco on June 14, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
RECIFE, BRAZIL - JUNE 14: Serge Aurier of the Ivory Coast holds off a challenge by Shinji Kagawa of Japan during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group C match between the Ivory Coast and Japan at Arena Pernambuco on June 14, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Serge Aurier has a key role to play for Tottenham

Tottenham didn’t purchase a talent like Serge Aurier to serve as Kieran Trippier’s understudy. Spurs purchased him to play in massive Champions League fixtures. The club have just such a fixture coming on Wednesday as they host Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

The conventional wisdom seems to believe that Trippier will get the start against the Bundesliga giants. Perhaps those pundits and fans haven’t noticed that Mauricio Pochettino isn’t the world’s most conventional manager. Instead, it seems much more likely that the former PSG defender will get the start on Wednesday.

Dortmund will put immense pressure on Tottenham’s stingy defense. The German club will arrive in England with a ton of pace and skill in their front line. The combination of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Christian Pulisic and Maximilian Phillip are talented enough to strike fear in any group of defenders. Spurs will enter the match with a healthy amount of respect for their opposition.

It’s no secret that Trippier’s biggest weakness is his lack of pace. He struggles to hold up against elite attackers who can run by him. Dortmund boast at least three attackers who can do that on a regular basis.

Aurier, in sharp contrast, is a world-class athlete. He will remind Spurs fans of Kyle Walker in terms of the speed and power he will showcase on the pitch. Fortunately for Pochettino and company, he also is much more skilled as the former Tottenham star. He possesses all the qualities needed to successfully hold off the Dortmund attack.

Don’t underestimate the Wembley factor here either. Perhaps if this game was being held at White Hart Lane the smaller pitch would be enough to keep Trippier in the starting XI. The expansive nature of the playing surface at Wembley make starting Aurier a practical necessity for Pochettino.

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Tottenham also gave a massive hint that Aurier would start the match by the group that started the match at Everton on Saturday. First off, Trippier played the full 90 minutes. Pochettino clearly prefers to alternate his fullbacks whenever possible. It’s Aurier’s turn to get a chance in the starting XI.

Even more importantly, the insertion of Davinson Sanchez in the starting XI altered the club’s starting formation to a back three (or five). The Colombian put in an excellent shift against the Toffees and figures to stay in the lineup against Dortmund.

That means Pochettino is likely to start again with three at the back. That formational choice puts a ton of pressure on Tottenham’s wingbacks to get forward and provide width for his attack. Ben Davies did an exceptional job of that at Goodison Park. Trippier failed to get forward with any real effect. Aurier is much more adept at using his exceptional pace to bomb forward into the opponent’s final third.

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In the end, there are just too many reasons for Pochettino to start Serge Aurier over Kieran Trippier on Wednesday. Many will see starting the new fullback as a daring choice, but it’s actually the safer option. He is a much better bet to slow down the impressive Dortmund attack.

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