The Tottenham Hotspur defender was overlooked for today’s match against Arsenal.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino spoke to reporters after his side comfortably brushed aside Arsenal in the Premier League today, and reacted angrily to questions asking him why he omitted Toby Alderweireld from his match-day squad today, as quoted by Football.London.
The Belgium international returned to action in midweek for Tottenham’s FA Cup fourth round replay clash with Newport County at Wembley, having been absent from action since November 1st, and completed the full 90 minutes.
It came as somewhat of a surprise then, when his name was missing from the team-sheet for Spurs’ clash with the Gunners today.
Pochettino reacted angrily, though, when quizzed by reporters as to why the centre-back wasn’t even included on the substitutes bench today, as quoted by Football.London:
“Sorry? After the game I need to explain this? You think I need to explain why I picked one or another? Why? Sorry, I don’t understand your question. Why I pick 11 players? Because I need to pick 11 players. I don’t understand your question. I picked a player that I believe are the best to play in every game, but, if I explain why I don’t play Alderweireld, I need to explain why for Danny Rose, Wanyama, Llorente, Michel Vorm, Harry Winks – I don’t understand your question.”
Tottenham do have a hugely important Champions League clash away at Juventus in just three days time, so the Argentine might just have been ensuring that Alderweireld is fully fit and ready to face the Italian champions.
After Davinson Sanchez performed so well against Arsene Wenger’s side, though, Pochettino will have a real selection dilemma on his hands for Tuesday night’s game in Turin.
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