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Tottenham v Juventus: 5 harsh lessons learned by Spurs

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 07: A dejected looking Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur after the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus at Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 07: A dejected looking Kieran Trippier of Tottenham Hotspur after the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus at Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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ENFIELD, ENGLAND – MARCH 06: Fernando Llorente stretches during a Tottenham Hotspur training session on the eve of their UEFA Champions League match against Juventus at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on March 6, 2018 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
ENFIELD, ENGLAND – MARCH 06: Fernando Llorente stretches during a Tottenham Hotspur training session on the eve of their UEFA Champions League match against Juventus at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on March 6, 2018 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

4. Llorente must go

Regular readers of my work know that I gave up on Fernando Llorente several weeks ago. His inability to serve as Tottenham’s backup striker was on display again yesterday against Juventus.

It’s very possible that it isn’t the Spaniard’s fault. He seems to try hard and clearly he gives good effort in training. Otherwise, Pochettino would have banished him to the reserves a long time ago.

The plain truth is that he isn’t athletic enough to be Tottenham’s second striker. The idea that he can knock balls down with his head to provide Kane assistance is great in theory, but it obviously hasn’t worked in actual matches. Llorente is the wrong sort of striker to play with Kane and he isn’t good enough to fill his spot in the Spurs lineup.

Whether Pochettino chooses to call up a young starlet from the Tottenham Academy or buy another striker in the summer is a matter of taste. No matter what, Llorente cannot be trusted to cover for Kane any longer.

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