Tottenham smashed their opponents on Thursday night without two players perviously held up as central to Pochettino’s philosophy – and that is a credit to the Argentine.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane holds the match ball as he celebrates after the match with Ben Davies
Earlier in the campaign it would have been unthinkable to imagine Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur side producing arguably their best performance of the season without two players crucial to the Argentine’s 3-4-3 system: the wing backs Danny Rose and Kyle Walker.
But against Leicester City that is exactly what Spurs fans got. Without the two buccaneering England stars, Tottenham nevertheless recorded their best away result in decades, obliterating the team that pipped them to the title so impressively last season.
The 6-1 victory was interesting for a number of reasons, not least that it was the first home defeat for the former champions since Craig Shakespeare took over as boss.
Tottenham’s Danny Rose celebrates with Kyle Walker
The fact Tottenham were so excellent without two players many feel are the best fullbacks in the Premier League was significant, as it demonstrated that Pochettino has a group of players who are fully capable in the current system. With reports linking both Walker and Rose with big money moves elsewhere, according to The Sun, it should be encouraging to Spurs fans that their side under Pochettino can still be a force.
Ben Davies has been excellent in the second half of the season, and he has featured in every match of the club’s recent run that saw an astonishing 12 wins in 13 games. He has proven himself a more than able deputy to injured Rose, even if the former Leeds youngster would certainly still be picked ahead of the Wales international if fit.
On the right-hand side, things are more complicated. Despite a superb opening two thirds of the season, the run in has seen first choice Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier alternate, with some feeling things are much closer than on the other flank. Neither player was available against Leicester, and yet still Spurs dominated the opposition.
It is unlikely Moussa Sissoko has played himself into a new role for Spurs as he filled in on the right, but Tottenham’s performance underlined how confident the team is with Pochettino’s tactics. Every supporter will be hoping Walker and Rose remain with the Lilywhites, but even if the worst was to happen, and one or even two of the club’s two England fullbacks were to depart, Thursday night was further proof the club would still challenge for honours with the players they currently have at their disposal.
And if you were Walker and Rose, or any other player whose head may be turned by a hefty pay rise, the Leicester result was the perfect demonstration as to why leaving Mauricio Pochettino’s group would be madness.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane celebrates scoring their third goal with Ben Davies
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