‘Little Iniesta’ right at home on the biggest stage

Mauricio Pochettino has always had trust in young midfielder Harry Winks, and last night was the night that he would show it according to an article in The Independent.

The young midfielder,has told a story of when he first met Pochettino as an 18-year-old scholar signing his first professional deal at the club.

“He came in and shook my hand,” winks said in an interview with The Independent earlier this year. “And he said, and I don’t know if he was being truthful or not, ‘I have seen your videos, and I told John (Mc Dermott: Academy manager)  to sign you up straightaway.’ I was gobsmacked.”

Despite playing 33 times for Spurs across all competitions last season and with regular appearances this year, the article says, when the big games came he (Winks) was always left on the bench, watching on and wondering, never trusted to start against any of Spurs’ top-six rivals.

The article states however that all that changed last night in the Champions League,when the chance came to play against a team bigger than any of those he’d had to watch from the sidelines, and the Hemel Hempstead born star was impressive on one of football’s greatest stages against some of its best players.

Luka Modric has been one of the best midfielders on the planet for some 18 months now and along with German Toni Kroos, the two provide the creativity, deftness and the article says that Winks did not look out of place, not one bit.

The report continues saying Winks was kept busy as Mauricio went for a 5-3-2 formation and the Harry was tasked with a role in the centre of that midfield with Moussa Sissoko to be the main legs and breaking threat on the counter and Christian Eriksen, holstered in his left pocket, ready to be our creative outlet.

The article continues saying that Winks was tasked with a holding role with is distribution being clean and simple – 94% pass completion – and he was vital in breaking up Madrid’s play.

Winks cut off a lot the supply line to Karim Benzema, disrupting Madrid’s attack in a way that Dortmund completely failed to do on the last matchday. The article continues saying that no Spurs player made more interceptions than Winks last night as Real Madrid’s famously potent attack was strangled.

The article concludes by saying that Mauricio Pochettino can reflect on a job well done,that he got his tactics spot on and his selection was smart too.  The line-up was risky, one that included a wildcard choice that repaid his faith.

Another fine night from Winks, a player that is improving every game and is certainly a long way in to making that role permanent. It remains to be seen whether a fit again Moussa Dembele will walk back in to the side. It would be harsh on him if that was the case. Do you think Winks is now ahead of Dembele and /or Wanyama or will Eric Dier become the fall guy when we have a fully fit squad to chose from. Let us know your thoughts on Winksy and how the future of our midfield might develop.

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