Jermaine Jenas claims this midfielder must start CL final for Spurs

Tottenham Hotspur are just five days away from their first ever Champions League final, as they prepare to fly out to Madrid on Wednesday.

Spurs are set to take on Liverpool on June 1 in the final, with both clubs looking to end recent trophy droughts.

Pochettino will be hoping to have a number of injured stars back for the big match on Saturday, including Harry Kane, Jan Vertonghen, Davinson Sanchez, and Harry Winks.

Jermaine Jenas believes that the latter of these four is pivotal in Tottenham’s success in the match, claiming that no other Spurs midfielder covers ground like him.

As a former Tottenham midfielder himself, Jenas says that Winks should be used to pick up Liverpool danger man Roberto Firmino.

Winks only underwent groin surgery a few weeks ago (Tottenham), but returned to training last week in an attempt to be fit for the final with his boyhood club (Independent).

Jenas said (Daily Mail): ‘The decisions on Harry Winks and Roberto Firmino are simpler: both must play. Spurs don’t have any other midfielder who covers the ground like Winks.

‘There is a tactical need for his mobility. In the Premier League, 42 per cent of Liverpool’s assists have come from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson at full-back. So Spurs will have to ask Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier to play aggressively high up the pitch, as they did in the September meeting between the sides even though they lost, and keep Alexander-Arnold and Robertson occupied. That will leave Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld to deal with Liverpool’s front three — so they will need help from Winks and Moussa Sissoko in midfield.

‘I expect Firmino to play because, well though Divock Origi did against Barcelona, the Brazilian offers so much more. The dynamic of the team is so much better with his aggressive pressing but, as well as being a scorer, he drops deep to link up play. And when he drifts into those deeper areas, that’s exactly when you will need the mobility of Winks to close him down.’

Spurs Web Opinion:

I agree that Harry Winks is a must-starter in Madrid. While Tottenham can replace Kane’s goals with Son and Moura, I don’t think Dier or Wanyama offer anything close to Winks’ ability. The youngster always keeps things ticking over for Spurs, rarely gives the ball away, and is also capable of unlocking a defence.

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