Alan Hutton questions Pochettino’s tactics against Everton

Former Tottenham Hotspur right back Alan Hutton has questioned Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to play Lucas Moura as the man up top against Everton.

Harry Kane was ruled out of the 1-1 draw at Goodison Park on Sunday due to an illness but has since returned and travelled with the rest of the squad ahead of this evening’s Champions League clash in Serbia against Red Star Belgrade.

The Brazilian played as the main striker with Heung-min Son, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli all operating just behind.

Hutton has claimed that the former PSG player failed to make an impression when leading the line on Merseyside partly due to the tactics deployed by Pochettino which did not suit the strengths of Moura.

Instead, he believes that Spurs should have utilised Moura’s pace by trying to stretch the Toffees defence by playing balls in behind for him to latch on to.

Hutton told Football Insider: “He [Moura] looks a little bit lightweight to play through the middle.

“I understand why, he possesses great pace and he can obviously affect the game that way but if you’re not going to play that way, as in the ball in behind, into channels for him to run, there’s no point him doing it.

“I think (Heung-min) Son brings a more creativity with the ball into feet, can do a little bit of magic and obviously Moura out wide, with his pace, could work. I think that could have worked well.”

Opinion

Moura has found himself struggling for a regular starting place this season with some fans still feeling he was harshly treated by Pochettino for not including him in the starting eleven for the Champions League final following his heroics in Amsterdam.

Related Topics