Team News: Mourinho reveals midfielder will miss Dinamo Zagreb tie

Jose Mourinho has provided an update on his squad to journalists who have dialled into Tottenham Hotspur’s pre-Dinamo Zagreb press conference from Hotspur Way this afternoon.

Such is the protocol, the media are informed of the availability of the Spurs squad ahead of Mourinho answering questions prior to the visit of the Croatian outfit in the Europa League round of 16 first leg.

Pre-match press conferences continue to take place on the Zoom video conferencing platform after the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown restrictions meaning that journalists can no longer attend Hotspur Way in person.

In the round of 32, Dinamo saw off Russian team Krasnodar 3-2 in the away tie and 1-0 at home.

The one previous encounter between the clubs occurred in the 2007/08 UEFA Cup group stage, Tottenham beating Dinamo 4-0 at their former White Hart Lane home with the help of a Darren Bent hat-trick.

Mourinho revealed that Giovani Lo Celso will miss the tie after the Argentine has been suffering with back pain after recently returning to training following his hamstring injury.

He told Football.London: “Gio is not ready but it’s nothing to do with his previous important injury, from which he’s totally recovered. But with his accumulation of work he’s got a bit of back pain so he’s had to stop what he’s doing. So not for this match. Apart from that, Joe Rodon, who is not registered, everyone is available. Am I going to repeat the team that played against Crystal Palace? No.”

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