Pochettino tries to justify Vorm selection despite goalkeeping error

Two notable absentees from the starting line up for Tottenham Hotspur’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United were Hugo Lloris and Toby Alderweireld.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has tried to justify his selection of Michel Vorm in goal, while club captain Lloris sat on the bench. Many felt that Vorm should have done better to try and stop Herrera’s matchwinner.

Vorm was caught off guard with his positioning from the strike from just inside the penalty area which nestled underneath the Tottenham keeper. Alderweireld was an unused substitute at Wembley and is likely to leave the club in the summer, with Danny Rose and Mousa Dembele also rumoured to be heading for the Spurs exit.

Tottenham’s defeat means that they have now lost eight successive FA Cup semi-finals.

Pochettino told the post match press conference: “For me, it’s not about the names or who is going to play. It’s about the team. Last season we play the semi-final and we lost 4-2 to Chelsea with Hugo, or the final of the league cup and we lost 2-0.

“Today we lost 2-1 to Manchester United and we should have won. For me it is about the team. Michel Vorm today deserved to play and I am so happy because I thought he was good. It is not about one players or 11 players or playing a different 11 players. I think it’s not like this.

“I am happy with the performance and the effort, it was an even game, in my head a little bit more for us. We were close but not enough to win.”

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