Tottenham make the long trip to Istanbul to face Galatasaray without a few important players. Mikey Moore and Timo Werner didn't travel, while the Spurs' vice-captain, centre-back Cristian Romero, is also out. Romero has been a defensive rock this season for Tottenham, who was substituted in the 61st-minute during a 4-1 win over Aston Villa after a bruising challenge.
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These absences mean Spurs' coach Ange Postecoglou will have to tinker with his lineup, thereby changing strategy, to keep up the strong performance of Tottenham in the UEFA Europa League where they are yet to be defeated. Facing an equally undefeated Galatasaray, the match promises to be a tough battle.
Cristian Romero and the Impact of His Absence
Cristian Romero has been immovable in the Tottenham backline, playing nearly every match this season and being the no-nonsense enforcer with rock-solid defending and physicality. An absence by the Argentine due to a foot injury brings the big question of how Tottenham will set up its backline for such an uphill task.
It's a blow to have Romero out, but for coach Ange Postecoglou, it's not insurmountable. In a press conference, Ange revealed that Romero isn't that bad, adding that the possibility of his returning for the next Premier League game against Ipswich Town is an excellent chance. "Cuti isn't too bad. He's a possibility for the weekend," Ange confirmed optimistically about Romero's chances of recovery in quick time.
Moore and Werner Out of the Lineup
Apart from Romero, both Mikey Moore and Timo Werner will also not be traveling to Istanbul. Moore has caught a virus while Werner has a slight groin issue according to the manager himself. "Timo has a slight groin complaint, so he's out, and Mikey caught a virus yesterday, so he misses the trip as well. Everyone else is good to go," Postecoglou said. Despite these casualties, he nonetheless proved optimistic that the squad is ready for the challenge.
Equally, not having Moore and Werner at his service is the price to be paid for a long season that demands changes in every match. Indeed, in different Europa League rounds, the coach was able to put the same philosophy into action, with the alternation of players intent on maintaining the freshness and competitiveness of the squad. We have rotated the squad throughout the Europa League and have been playing three games a week since the start of the year. So, we have used almost the whole squad, which has worked really well because it means that the players are fit and in form," said Postecoglou.
Galatasaray's Strength and Tottenham's Away Challenge
Galatasaray has been unbeaten in the Europa League so far, collecting crucial points. With their attacking game and threat from set pieces, this Turkish side can become a constant threat to any kind of defense. For Postecoglou, the real test will definitely be against Galatasaray in Turkey, especially for Tottenham's defense without Romero.
Galatasaray is a very good team with very, very good individual players. That is what you expect when you play the top European teams. We find ourselves up against the best opponents every week-the best individual players-so we understand what it's all about in the Premier League. It's going to be a good test for us," said Ange.
The Spurs' coach also pointed out how important it would be to adjust their play in defense at various junctures of the game, especially away from home in Europe, where atmosphere and pressure from the home crowd are always decisive factors. "They score a lot of goals from set pieces; they're an offensive threat, especially with the players they have in the final third," Ange noted, emphasizing that Tottenham needs to be fully focused.
Rotation Strategy as a Key Approach Since the schedule for the Europa League calls for a very, very high tempo of the games, Postecoglou had to make use of squad rotation to have everyone physically ready. This keeps the team fresh while still fielding experienced players who are ready to face whatever comes their way. This, he says, is where the approach has seemed to work. For him, even bench players start to keep their edge to keep competitiveness alive despite key absences.
We'll make changes, but again, it's about making sure we have a team out there that we believe can match up with the opponent and get a result for us," the coach said.