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Has Mauricio Pochettino just given away why he keeps picking Moussa Sissoko?

Jordi Alba of Barcelona and Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham battle for the ball during the Group B match of the UEFA Champions League between Totte...
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Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Moussa Sissoko has played regularly of late and impressed.

Moussa Sissoko #17 of Tottenham Hotspur moves the ball up the field during an International Champions Cup match against AS Roma at SDCCU Stadium on July 25, 2018 in San Diego, California.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino may just have given away why he likes Moussa Sissoko so much with his comments on ESPN.

Pochettino was critical of Kieran Tripper following Spurs’ 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend.

Trippier was guilty of over-playing and his error allowed Wolves a route back into the match.

But when giving Trippier a warning, the Spurs boss could not help but praise Sissoko’s positioning.

Tottenham Hotspur's French midfielder Moussa Sissoko (L) vies with Newcastle United's Welsh defender Paul Dummett (2L) during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle...

“If you watch the game, Moussa Sissoko compensates that situation,” Pochettino said. “If we put a player high, it is because in behind we have compensated the situation to give the time to go back.

“Kieran needs to improve in the defensive situation because in the last few games you have seen that we conceded a few actions. But like him, all the players need to improve in the defensive situation.”

Sissoko has always been used regularly by Pochettino, and he has broken back into Tottenham’s starting line-up in recent weeks.

The French midfielder has actually caught the eye of late, but he is usually a player who divides opinion.

Sissoko, who is on a £95,000-a-week contract at Spurs (Daily Star), has often been criticised by Tottenham fans.

But his disciplined defensive positioning may just be the reason why Pochettino appears to rate him so highly.

Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley at Wembley Stadium on August 27, 2017 in London, England.