Keown claims Spurs star has to show more confidence after being dropped

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has suggested on the back of Davinson Sachez’s performance against Middlesbrough that the defender’s confidence has been affected after previously being dropped by Jose Mourinho.

The defender has played fairly consistently since Mourinho came to the club in November but he was left out of Tottenham’s recent matches against Norwich, Southampton and the FA Cup third-round clash against Middlesbrough at the Riverside stadium a week and a half ago.

Sanchez came back into the side against Liverpool last weekend and was one of the better performers. However, the defender looked out of sorts in the third round replay against Boro on Tuesday night.

He made several unforced errors and gave the ball away in dangerous areas. Keown felt that the Colombian international struggled against the Championship side and suggested it could be because of a lack of confidence due to being in and out of the side.

Davinson Sanchez
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Speaking to Match of the Day Live on BBC One (14/01/20 8pm start), the former England defender said: “It has been a difficult evening for him, hasn’t it?”

“It’s almost as if he put somebody else’s boots on.

“This ball [a cross from the right], he doesn’t sort his feet out at all. It’s bread and butter [for him to clear it]. [But] he’s casual [and ends up slicing his clearance for a corner]. I think I’d be in his ear if I was playing alongside him.

“You think Sanchez is suffering tonight. He has been in and out of the team. You got to be strong mentally. You have got to believe in yourself because when the new manager comes into town you have to back yourself.

“Pochettino brought him to the club. You have to show belief in yourself. He is a fine player. He has good attributes. He has just got to put the performances in.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Sanchez did have an uncharacteristically poor game on Tuesday but I believe it was a just a blip more than anything. The 23-year-old has been our most consistent defender this season and it is apparent that he has become much better at reading the game. I have no doubt that Sanchez will establish himself in the starting eleven soon.

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