Goalkeeper Michel Vorm has the complete trust of the Tottenham squad and manager Mauricio Pochettino sees no reason to drop the Dutchman for Wednesday night’s Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Sheffield United.
Vorm’s error deep into stoppage-time gifted Leicester a dramatic 2-1 victory at White Hart Lane on Saturday to end Spurs’ interest in the FA Cup, as a scuffed shot from Jeffrey Schlupp squirmed over the line.
Pochettino, though, sees no reason to ostracise Vorm, who had earlier in the fourth-round tie made some important saves, and to instead recall number one Hugo Lloris for the trip to Bramall Lane, where Spurs will defend a slender 1-0 lead.
“This is football. He made a mistake. Every player can make a mistake, we have full confidence in him and must give him support,” the Tottenham boss said.
“He made two big saves against Leicester. His attitude is fantastic and nothing has changed, in one action he conceded a goal.
“I think it should be normal to play Michel. All games are important, and (overall he) had a good performance (against Leicester).”
Spurs edged past the Blades with a penalty from Andros Townsend in the first leg.
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Pochettino maintained the Barclays Premier League side will not take Nigel Clough’s League One team lightly, especially given the shocks in the FA Cup last weekend.
“Now we realise the level of Sheffield United. We have seen other examples in the FA Cup too, so we have to be strong in our minds and expect a tough game,” the Argentinian coach said.
“It is going to be a difficult game in a good atmosphere and we have to be ready to fight.
“We have to improve our game and play more quickly than in the first leg, when we played in a very slow tempo.
“They played deep and we ended up playing the way they wanted us to play, so now we must play quicker and the way we want to play.”
Pochettino knows just what getting through could mean for Spurs’ campaign.
“It is the most important game (of the season so far) because it is the chance to play in a final at Wembley,” he said.
“It is important to have the opportunity to win a cup in March. I think that is very important and would be a very good thing for the club.”
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