If Tottenham Hotspur are to sustain a challenge for the title this season then much will depend on Jose Mourinho getting the best out of Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso over the remainder of the season.
Mourinho has always insisted that Ndombele and Lo Celso are capable of playing together, but when they have been named in the same starting line-up so far, Spurs are yet to show their best form.
Lo Celso has generally been deployed on the right when Ndombele has been involved, with the Frenchman playing in an advanced midfield role.
While Spurs would usually be expected to gain an increase in creativity for the inclusion of the technically gifted pair, that has not been the case.
Lo Celso prefers to play centrally, while Ndombele is more effective from deeper areas.
Mourinho’s reluctance to take Moussa Sissoko out of his side, therefore, seems problematic at times.
Against Everton Ndombele was hooked at half-time, after an ineffective showing, but how much blame can be put on the player is very much up for debate.
Ndombele is much more purposeful when he can drive from deep, and he is yet to prove that he is the answer in a number 10 role.
Lo Celso, similarly, doesn’t appear at home on the right – especially as Tottenham are at their best when they have runners out on the flanks.
Lo Celso simply doesn’t possess the same speed of Steven Bergwijn or Lucas Moura, who look better options in a wing role.
It is now arguable that Mourinho is failing to get the best out of Tottenham’s three most creative players, with Dele Alli completely out of favour.
And for all the good work the Portuguese boss has done, making sure he provides a platform for Ndombele and Lo Celso to showcase their undoubted talents could be his next big challenge.
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