Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is backing his ultra-fit players to make a full recovery in time for Sunday’s North London derby against Arsenal.
Spurs have endured a demanding week ahead of the crunch match at the Emirates Stadium, after beating Aston Villa 3-1 on Monday and edging past Anderlecht 2-1 on Thursday in the Europa League.
Tottenham have found it difficult to juggle the two competitions in recent years, but seven points from three league matches after European games this season suggest they are growing more comfortable with the extra workload.
Pochettino resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes against Anderlecht, with only Danny Rose, Kyle Walker and Mousa Dembele dropping out of the starting line-up, and he is confident his side will have enough left in the tank for Arsenal this weekend.
“It’s not because we have a young squad that we run a lot and we now win the games,” Pochettino said.
“It’s about the way we’re training. This is our sports science and our medical staff who deserve to have their job recognised.
“When you have to push the players every day, it is hard for the players and you can be proud of how they recovered for (the game against Anderlecht).
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“It is not a miracle. It is hard work from the beginning of the season.”
The contest at White Hart Lane looked to be heading for a 1-1 draw when Harry Kane’s first-half strike was cancelled out by Imoh Ezekiel but Dembele came off the bench to score a stunning winner in the 87th minute.
Dembele expressed disappointment earlier this year at his lack of game-time at White Hart Lane but the midfielder appears to have won over Pochettino, having started all of Tottenham’s last four matches and scored three times in the process.
“If we analyse him last season, part of the season he was injured,” Pochettino said.
“I think Dembele from the beginning of this season, every time he was available he had the possibility to play.
“Always it’s up to the player. If the player shows he deserves to play, it’s easy for them.
“I am very pleased with him. He got injured against Everton and had some problems with his foot but today he was very important for us.”
Kane’s goal came just a few hours after another call-up to Roy Hodsgon’s England squad and continues a recent return to form for the striker, who now has five in his last three appearances.
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