According to the London Evening Standard Mauricio Pochettino says Serge Aurier will need time to adapt to the pressure and demands of Spurs and the Premier League.
The Ivory Coast international, a summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain, made his first Premier League start in over a month at Crystal Palace but it was an error-strewn afternoon to forget for the defender.
He was guilty of three foul throws, two of which came within around a minute of each other, and the 25-year-old had the best chance of the day to break the deadlock late on, when Harry Kane’s deft flick handed him a fantastic chance from close range, but he couldn’t sort his feet out and missed the ball completely.
Pochettino jokingly promised fans that they would be making Aurier practice throw-ins at Hotspur Way adding that it will take Aurier a little time to settle.
“Yes, he needs time,” Pochettino said.
“It is normal in the Premier League, it is not an easy position for players when they arrive, like Lucas [Moura] and Juan Foyth, I think who surprised everyone is Davinson Sanchez, at 21 his performances have been unbelievable.
He added: “But yes – the player that comes from a different league needs time to adapt.The pressure, the focus and then we are a club that demands a lot and of course we want to fight for big things, to be top of the Premier League, the Champions League and of course it is difficult.
Pochettino went on to say: “But we are happy with all the players, they are in the plan that we want and the most important thing is that we as a coaching staff help them to improve every day.”
Pochettino added that Vertonghen, who suffered a ‘heavy knock’ to his ankle in training on Saturday, would be assessed on Monday ahead of the FA Cup replay with Rochdale.
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