Playing for 90
Fansided

Tottenham news: According to Pochettino, Moussa can’t replace Mousa

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur and Pablo Zabaleta of West Ham United clash during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on September 23, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur and Pablo Zabaleta of West Ham United clash during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on September 23, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Mousa Dembele is irreplaceable for Tottenham

There’s no doubt that Moussa Sissoko is in the midst of saving his Tottenham career. He’s gone from a useless player last season to a solid contributor this year. With that being said, he still can’t fill the massive void of Mousa Dembele in the Spurs midfield.

That’s ok with Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino though. He understands that Sissoko and Dembele, despite having similar first names, have entirely different games. Dembele is a superior defensive presence with the ability to shut down the middle of the pitch whereas Sissoko is a classic box-to-box midfielder.

Ideally, Pochettino would be able to play both men at the same time. Unfortunately, Dembele’s inability to stay fit has prevented that from happening lately. It’s highly probable that Sissoko will be the only Moussa available for Pochettino against APOEL today.

Last season that sentence would have justifiably sent shivers down the spines of Spurs fans around the world. This season, it’s reasonable for Tottenham fans to be excited about the prospect of Sissoko being in the starting XI. He hasn’t been a world-class player this year for Pochettino, but he’s been competent at the very least.

More from Tottenham Hotspur

Sissoko’s current form can’t be the end of the road for him though. He must continue to improve if he truly wants to justify his £30 million price tag. That improvement should start by adding some subtle quality to his play in the final third. Finding the back of the net could do wonders for his confidence and his perception amongst diehard Tottenham fans.

The arrival of Serge Aurier at the club might also give him a much-needed boost. The two played together at Toulouse and seem to have retained some of their chemistry. Both men seemed to thrive playing off one another down the right flank against West Ham before Aurier’s unceremonious exit.

Next: Real Madrid swap offer won't work for Spurs

The key thing to watch with Sissoko moving forward is whether or not he can continue his steady improvement. If he can, there’s no reason the Frenchman can’t overcome his nightmare start and become an invaluable member of Pochettino’s future plans at Tottenham.

Home/Tottenham Hotspur