Mauricio Pochettino has a chance to show why he is regarded as the Premier League’s elite managers.
Mauricio Pochettino has to contend with ongoing snipes from rivals fans and pundits who point out his lack of trophies at Tottenham.
Yet you wouldn’t get a single Tottenham fan swapping him for Claudio Ranieri simply because the Italian won the title once in 2015/16.
Pochettino now has the perfect chance to show off his coaching credentials and does not even have to win a trophy to do so.
Tottenham’s terrible injury list has put Pochettino under tremendous pressure simply to maintain the status quo.
Spurs will be without Harry Kane and Dele Alli until mid March after the pair both suffered injuries.
Heung-Min Son is at the Asian Cup, and attackers Lucas Moura and Moussa Sissoko are both nursing injury problems which kept them out at the weekend.
Tottenham currently remain in all four cup competitions, putting pressure on an already stretched squad.
Pochettino has already had to deal with unexpected challenges this season, from the continued delays and uncertainty over the new stadium, seeing the heart of the team have no summer break due to the World Cup, and signing no players in the transfer window.
A title challenge and silverware may be beyond Spurs now. Holding off the chasing pack to secure a top four place would still be an excellent achievement, and Pochettino’s reputation will rise with it.
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