Mauricio Pochettino explains shock selection decision at Tottenham Hotspur

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Tottenham Hotspur recently picked up a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid, with a surprising midfield selection.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has told Yahoo Sports that the midfield he picked against Real Madrid in the Champions League would have been a major shock only a month and a half ago.

Tottenham went with a midfield trio of Moussa Sissoko, Harry Winks and Christian Eriksen against Los Blancos and still managed to pick up a 1-1 draw.

While Eriksen starting was not a surprise, Winks and Sissoko have both enjoyed rapid rises at Spurs.

And Pochettino believes that it is important to make sure the whole of his squad feel that they have a role to play.

“A month and a half ago, no-one would have believed it if I told you we were going to play at the Bernabeu with [Moussa] Sissoko, Harry Winks and Christian Eriksen in midfield,” he said. ‘[Juan] Foyth is young but he needs to show why he’s here. You will only know if he’s ready to play if he plays.

“That is the most important thing, to keep all the squad believing that they can play, and make everyone competitive.”

Tottenham are set to take on West Ham tonight in the League Cup, and are expected to rotate for the contest.

Many of Spurs’ fringe players could get given opportunities to impress, as Pochettino looks to keep his squad fresh.

Spurs go into the game in red-hot form, but their performance in the last round of the competition was not particularly eye catching.

Spurs edged past Barnsley to get to this stage of the League Cup, and will have to improve if they are to beat an under pressure West Ham side this evening.