Mauricio Pochettino hasn’t been Moussa Sissoko’s biggest advocate since he joined Tottenham.
This week’s wins over Hull and Burnley have been among the first games all season when the Frenchman has made an impact, and it came as a surprise to many that he didn’t start against the Clarets.
Coming off the bench, the former Newcastle man once again showed his capability at running at defenders and taking players on, and he finally seems to be winning over Pochettino, as well as the fans.
Yet, the Spurs boss was forced to defend the club’s record signing after Burnley manager Sean Dyche insisted he should have been sent off for his two-footed challenge on Stephen Ward.
Sissoko was booked by referee Kevin Friend, which is fortunate as it means he can’t now face retrospective action from the FA.
The midfielder has already had one ban this season after elbowing Harry Arter against Bournemouth, but Pochettino believes there was no cause for any such punishment this time.
“It is difficult for me to see on TV but from my position I cannot say one thing or another,” Pochettino told his post-match press conference.
“I can’t understand (Dyche), maybe he thought that (the challenge should have been a) red card.
“From my position at the bench, I think it wasn’t a sending-off, it wasn’t a red card – maybe a yellow or perhaps it was good but it is difficult.”
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