Tottenham Hotspur lost 2-1 to Juventus on Wednesday night.
Pundit Jamie Redknapp has told the Daily Mail that he felt Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino should have brought Victor Wanyama on against Juventus on Wednesday night.
Having come from 2-0 down to claim a 2-2 in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash with Juventus, Tottenham were in the box seat for the home leg on Wednesday night, given that they had two away goals in the locker.
Spurs looked to be moving a step closer to the last eight of the Champions League when Son Heung-min met Kieran Trippier’s cross and scuffed Spurs into a lead, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side collapsed after the break.
Gonzalo Higuain’s quick reaction from a Sami Khedira flick on brought Juventus level on the night, before Higuain played fellow Argentinian Paulo Dybala through on goal, and he dispatched the ball into the net for 2-1.
Spurs did go close late on as Harry Kane’s header hit the inside of the post and was hacked off the line, but Spurs paid the price for conceding twice in three minutes as Juventus advanced.
Tottenham will once again be called ‘Spursy’ for squandering the game, but Pochettino’s men were somewhat unlucky in front of goal, and were made to pay by two of the world’s best strikers in Higuain and Dybala.
After the game, former Spurs midfielder and current pundit Jamie Redknapp told the Daily Mail that he felt Pochettino should have brought defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama on as a substitute after an hour to solidify the game, and made a mistake not introducing the Kenyan.
Redknapp added that Spurs must now focus on the FA Cup, as they are in danger of being the best side to never win a trophy having once again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
“Tottenham seemed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory,” said Redknapp. “With more than an hour gone they were 1-0 up and in control. At that stage in the second half, I thought they should have brought on Victor Wanyama and tried to protect their lead but they kept going for another goal. In doing so, Spurs left themselves open and were punished.”
“This is not the first time they have exited a cup competition having been in a dominant position. They were 2-0 up against West Ham in the Carabao Cup, but conceded three in 15 second-half minutes. Mauricio Pochettino is a superb manager but he needs to find a way for his team to win from these positions in the way Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola do. Wednesday night’s defeat only highlights the importance of the FA Cup for Tottenham this season. This is a brilliant, young Spurs team but they are in danger of becoming the best side to never win a trophy,” he added.
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