Tottenham Hotspur have a number of young prospects coming through the ranks at the club, including Argentine defender Juan Foyth.
The 21-year-old featured 17 times under Pochettino last season, with the manager trusting him in some big games along the way.
With Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld now both in their thirties and with just a year left on each of their contracts, Spurs will soon have to find some first team replacements.
However, could Juan Foyth and Davinson Sanchez make the step up to fill the Belgian duo’s shoes over the next two seasons?
Foyth was deployed as both a centre back and a right back last season, and it is unclear where his future lies in this Spurs team.
What is clear is that he is still a raw talent, highlighted by his two penalties conceded against Wolves and his red card two minutes after being subbed on against Bournemouth.
On the season, Foyth said (Tottenham Site): “The beginning of the season was hard for me. Of course, it’s always hard with your first full pre-season here and I think maybe in the summer I hadn’t prepared as I should prepare. When I came here I realised that pre-season is different in Europe and I started with an injury through my own fault. Thankfully, I started to recover, to do my best, I then played against West Ham and everything changed. It was very good after this.”
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On starting against Wolves and giving away two pens, he added: “It was a bit of a surprise, but I think in the West Ham game I played well so maybe I deserved it. For me, the second one wasn’t a penalty but of course, you always learn from mistakes and you try to take the positive part. Every single action helps you to develop and to improve so I tried to learn from those mistakes.”
The Bournemouth red card was a particularly low point for Foyth: “In that moment I was really, really sad, really frustrated. I came in to try to help the team and in two minutes, I was outside the pitch, sitting in the dressing room and watching the game, looking at my team-mates run and make such a big effort. It’s hard in that situation, you feel so bad, but when the game finished, I tried to change my mindset, to think it was just a single action and that I can keep being the same player, not to judge myself on one action whether I’m bad or I’m good.
“I think these situations mustn’t define you as a player. If you have a bad game, it doesn’t mean you are a bad player or if you have a good game, it doesn’t mean you are the best. You keep being the same player and always the team of staff, the manager and the team-mates help a lot – when you make a mistake they are always behind you and trying to give you confidence. This really helps.”
On next season, he said: “Every player has to improve and try to be a better player so I hope I’m a better player today – but I’m not the one who has to say that. I think it was a good season, I played more games throughout the year against good rivals and I enjoyed the games. I think I can do a lot better, I made some mistakes that I cannot make again but I think in general the season was positive.”
Spurs Web Opinion:
I am not convinced of his ability to play as a central defender, although I am convinced of his talent. With his slight build, agility, and skill on the ball, I would like to see Foyth play as a right-back or a deep lying midfield shielder. This would give him more of a chance to run with the ball and take the odd liberty, without allowing a striker to run through on goal.
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