Spurs fell short at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, but Mauricio Pochettino took the heat off the starting XI by laying into one player who didn’t even feature.
Moussa Sissoko was left out of the squad altogether, perhaps unsurprisingly after he contradicted the manager in midweek – Pochettino blamed a lack of squad depth for the Lilywhites’ Champions League exit, an obvious dig at his summer signings, but Sissoko instead blamed the decision to play their home games at Wembley.
That incident summed up the France international’s situation at White Hart Lane, and Pochettino has now questioned his attitude when explaining why he wasn’t even worthy of a place on the bench against Chelsea.
“Football is not about money,” said Pochettino, as per BBC Sport.
“You need to show on the training ground you are better than another team-mate and you deserve to be involved.”
“If you sign a player and you expect something and you do not find what you expect and if another deserves to be involved, like (Georges-Kevin) Nkoudou or (Vincent) Janssen – why? Because we paid money we need to put the player to play?”
Given the bit-part role he has played this season, it’s easy to forget that the midfielder is Spurs’ joint-record signing, having arrived from Newcastle on Deadline Day in a £30million five-year deal.
This isn’t a question of hindsight, as the move raised eyebrows in the first place. Everton may well be relieved that the former Magpies maverick opted for North London instead of Merseyside, as he is yet to prove he’s worth anything like £30million.
His most notable action so far was getting suspended for three games after elbowing Bournemouth’s Harry Arter.
It looks like Pochettino will need some convincing if he’s to be given another chance.
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c b waters
Nov 28, 2016 at 9:18 pm
I’ve been saying this in a number of blogs for the past 5 or 6 weeks. The man should never have been anywhere near a Spurs’ Shirt. We’ve made mistakes before with ‘record’ signings, but the problem here is not the fact we spent £30m on this mercenary uncaring misfit (who, apart from being completely useless in terms of pace, beating a man, tracking back, crossing the ball, or opening up a defense ..and yet not even having an ounce of so-called flair to make up for any of those deficiencies) it’s the fact that his very presence is divisive in that squad. How can better players, more loyal players, harder working players, eager-to-learn and adapt players etc., expect to feel inspired when playing with a man like Sissoko who is ‘earning’ (that’s a joke in itself) more than they are? What the hell were we thinking?
I don’t normally believe in scapegoats when the team is not performing, and there are many reasons why we’ve played poorly since the Man City game, 9 or 10 games ago (apart from in rare patches) ..ie Loss of form for Alli, Eriksen, Dembele, Dier (although he’s not playing in his best position)etc., Son’s lack of a football brain, and Kane’s slow return to form and fitness. But we have to consider that Sissoko has not helped at all, both on and off the pitch, and we need to cut our losses quickly in January.
david mcfarlane
Nov 29, 2016 at 1:29 am
So potchattino critics sissoko that’ll do his confidence a lot of good !! Levy says money’s tight because if the new stadium then goes out and pisses £30 million up against the wall !!! Winks and nkadou need too start Against Swansea eriksen and son are shite right now !!