Tottenham Hotspur left back Danny Rose needs to prove his worth to his current club before he even thinks of forcing an exit ahead of a move to Manchester.
Only Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino could honestly inform the press and supporters if he has a Danny Rose problem heading into December and the festive period. History suggests Pochettino will keep such information private, even if Rose and/or those within his camp get chatty with certain members of the press as he did ahead of the 2017-18 season.
What is known is that Pochettino kept Rose out of the squad for this past Saturday’s match against Arsenal, a contest Spurs lost 2-0. Per Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Independent, Pochettino told the media after that game Rose needed to “build fitness” before making a full-time return to the squad:
"“It’s not [for] another reason. It’s only that he needs to build, and then wait for his opportunity. We believe that he can play. It’s important that we played without him for 10 months, and without Lamela for more than one year. The competition is so tough. To get fit and be again ready to cope with the pressure to play 90 minutes is so difficult.”"
The Tottenham boss added:
"“You are trying to find an issue that is not an issue,” he said. “When it’s an issue, I explain, it’s an issue. When it’s not an issue, it’s not an issue.”"
Pochettino could climb the highest mountain and scream at the top of his lungs that he and Rose are on the same page, and that the two are as close as ever. Such a declaration wouldn’t prevent stories and rumors about Rose’s supposed desire to play for the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United as soon as possible from appearing on a weekly basis. At this point, anybody who doesn’t believe there isn’t at least some truth behind these rumblings is in denial.
For a moment, ignore what Rose has publicly stated and what he may or may not have told Pochettino, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy and anybody else behind the scenes, and instead focus on the 27-year-old as a footballer. Rose missed nearly an entire year because of a serious knee injury, and he hasn’t yet flirted with making a return to form since rejoining the team.
In September 2016, Rose put pen to paper on a contract extension through 2021, meaning he has little say in his future beyond what Spurs allow. Sure, he could pout and annoy Pochettino in an attempt to achieve his desired move, but pushing this particular manager’s stubborn nature will likely backfire considering how he’s handled similar situations since the beginning of his Tottenham tenure.
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Rose isn’t Luka Modric or Gareth Bale, two stars who proved their values in European competitions before signing for Real Madrid, arguably the biggest club in the world. Yes, the left back has produced memorable highlights (insert a YouTube video of his goal against Arsenal as you see fit), and he unquestionably improved and evolved playing under Pochettino.
Still, you’d probably need to either review a fixture list or think long and hard to remember Rose’s last stellar performance in Tottenham Lilywhite. This isn’t a hit at the player. Just as time heals wounds, it also erases certain positives from memories. The harsh truth of the matter is that Rose has offered nothing other than hope and promise for the majority of 2017, and it’s on him to change that and to prove he’s still the player of old.
Does Rose want to play for Manchester United or Manchester City? Probably. Fire generates smoke, and respected reporters don’t create stories for headlines and clicks, regardless of what fans may think. It’s not on Tottenham to make that wish come true, especially during the January transfer window when Spurs probably wouldn’t find a suitable replacement. Rose owes more to Spurs than the club owes to him ahead of the winter months, and somebody, whether it be his manager or an agent, should make that clear.
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It’s easy to envision a scenario where Pochettino lets Rose rot in the reserves if pushed to that limit. The situation obviously isn’t that dire, as Rose has been included for the club’s Champions League tilt versus Borussia Dortmund. Whether or not he plays could be telling of more than his fitness or the trust his manager has in him, as it may offer a glimpse of where the two stand, professionally, during this congested portion of the schedule.