David Moyes has stated Nuno Espirito Santo made wholesale changes on Thursday in Europe because Tottenham probably ‘understand’ how to deal with these situations, as he told his pre-match press conference.
West Ham outclassed Genk 3-0 at the London Stadium in the Europa League, with the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek, Aaron Cresswell and Ben Johnson all starting, in a fairly strong side.
Meanwhile in Holland, Spurs suffered a 1-0 defeat to Vitesse, with Nuno changing the entire XI – and leaving them at home – that started the win against Newcastle in the Premier League last Sunday.
Two different approaches by Moyes and Nuno and two different results, perhaps Tottenham’s fresher players will benefit them this afternoon?
Moyes was asked about those different approaches, as the Scotsman made it clear that he wants to ‘challenge on all fronts’.
“I can’t speak for Nuno,” said Moyes. “I felt that I wanted to continue. I wanted to keep good momentum at the club. I want to challenge in all fronts, if I can.
“We’ve had this before, where we have had European games and we have lost a goal in the last minute in two of them. We are mindful of it.
“Teams like Tottenham have been in Europe, much longer and more often than we have in recent seasons. Maybe they understand than we do.
“But, at the moment, I want my team to win in Europe and I want them to win in the Premier League. And I am trying best to get that balance right. Nuno will have his own reasons.”
Tottenham are in the newly-formed Europa Conference League and it’s interesting if that had a bearing on Nuno making even more changes than he would have if this was the Europa League.
Managers and players moan about fixture pile-up, as it is, so adding another European competition was just a mad idea.
Given that there is no sparkle to this tournament, it does seem as though managers aren’t paying too much respect to it, hence the changes.
It was a daft idea by those who pushed this through because it will be treated as a lesser version of the League Cup, but in European terms.
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