Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has his doubts over Toby Alderweireld’s chances of facing Juventus in the Champions League next week.
We host the Italian champions next Wednesday with the last-16 tie level at 2-2 following our dramatic first-leg comeback in Turin earlier this month.
Alderweireld is yet to resume training after suffering a tweak in the same hamstring which kept him sidelined for four months this season.
“He is still recovering. He is still not participating with the group,”:said Pochettino.
“When you tear a muscle, then you are fit but fit to participate in training. And then, it’s to be fit to play, and then to compete. It’s a different process and sometimes it’s longer, depending on the injury.
“Sometimes, the people create an expectation and then we are the bad guys, when we say ‘no you cannot play’ or we start to build your fitness step by step.
Pochettino added: “It’s our responsibility sometimes, but it’s impossible to explain everything. It’s just to be careful about the player because we want Toby 100 per cent ready to play.
He went on to say:”And then it’s my decision to pick him. But if you have your best player at 100 per cent, it’s sure that he increases your level and he’s going to help.
“But we don’t take our decisions based on public opinion. We are professional and when we take a decision, it’s because we have assessed and analysed, we have thought 100 times to try to take the best decision for the team and for the player.”Alderweireld and defensive partner Jan Vertonghen will miss tonight’s FA Cup replay against Rochdale, although the latter could shake off an ankle knock in time to face Huddersfield at the weekend.
In the article by ESPN Pochettino has laughed at suggestions We could have an unfair advantage should we reach the semi-finals of the cup as they will be playing at our temporary Wembley home.
We had a well publicised struggle to adapt to our new surroundings earlier this season, and Pochettino exclaimed: “Now it’s an advantage?
“Whereas before it was a disadvantage. Remember the Wembley hoodoo?
He added: “I laugh, but it’s not an advantage. Because we are playing at a stadium that is massive motivation for our opponent to play. To have the opportunity to play there.But it’s true that now the team is feeling good, comfortable. Yes, we start to feel like it’s like home.”
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