In four days time, Tottenham and Liverpool will square off for the Champions League trophy at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
While this is the second consecutive final that Jurgen Klopp’s side have made it to after they ended up losing to Madrid last year, this is the first time Tottenham have qualified for the event in their history.
What makes Spurs’ achievement even better is the fact that they have managed to achieve the feat despite not singing a single player to the squad in the last two transfer windows.
Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer praised the job Pochettino has done at the club despite the distractions due to the delay with the new stadium.
In a column for The Sun, Shearer wrote, “Nobody would have predicted Tottenham to get to this final, not even the most optimistic of their fans.
“Especially as they have looked knackered in the Premier League over the last two or three months.
“But what an unbelievable job boss Mauricio Pochettino has done there, particularly when you consider they spent no money last summer and have had the distraction of switching stadiums.”
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The former England striker further suggested that he would start with Harry Kane on the bench, and bring him on in a later stage in the game.
The 48-year-old also insisted that Spurs must defend resolutely if they wish to overcome the Reds as they have enough firepower to hurt them going forward.
He added, “Pochettino will have a decision to make about their main man Harry Kane — but I would not start him.
“He hasn’t played a game for seven weeks. And Tottenham managed all right without him at City and Ajax. Son Heung-min, Lucas Moura and Fernando Llorente have all stepped up.
“So I would keep Kane on the bench and maybe bring him on at some stage. It is going to be an open game.
“Both teams will look to score goals — and will score. Spurs will have to defend very well but, going forward, they have shown they can cause any team problems.”
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Even if Kane is at 75%-80%, he is one of the best strikers in the world, and given that the final is likely going to be decided based on moments of individual quality, it is vital that Kane is on the pitch for as much time as possible as he can score a goal out of nothing.
Thus, starting with Kane and bringing on one of Moura or Son in the final thirty minutes when the opposition has tired legs, would be the way to go.
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